HONORS CHEMISTRY

SUMMER 2014
Chemical reactions that involve movement of
electrons are called oxidation-reduction
reactions (redox).
Synthesis of Salt:
Balanced chemical equation:
2Na(s) + Cl
2
(g) 2NaCl(s)
Net ionic equation:
2Na(s) + Cl
2
(g) 2Na
1+
+ 2Cl
1-
(in crystal)
Many reactions involve the transfer of
electrons from one atom to another.
Combustion of Magnesium:
Complete chemical equation:
2Mg(s) + O
2
(g) 2MgO(s)
Net ionic equation:
2Mg(s) + O
2
(g) 2Mg
2+
+ 2O
2-
(in crystal)
2Mg(s) + O
2
(g) 2MgO(s)
X
X
X
X
each loses 2
electrons
O
O
O O
O O
O
O
O O
O O
each gains 2
electrons

2
+
2
+
2
-
2
-
O
O
O O
O O
X
X
O
O
O O
O O
X
X
Oxidation is the loss of electrons from atoms
of a substance.
Reduction is the gain of electrons from atoms
of a substance.
Oxidation numbers (or states) are tools that
scientists use in written chemical equations to
help them keep track of the movement of
electrons in a redox reaction.
Oxidation states are written with the sign
before the number (+1, +2, -1, -2)
Ionic charge is written with the sign
after the number (2-, 2+)
Aluminum Ions would have a 3+ charge and
an oxidation state of +3
1. The oxidation number of an uncombined
atom is zero.
2. The oxidation number of a
monatomic ion is the ions charge.
3. The oxidation number of the more
electronegative atom in a molecule or a
complex ion is that of its ion.
4. When bonded, F is always -1, O is
usually -2, and H is usually +1.
5. When bonded, the metals in groups 1A and
2A and aluminum in group 3A always have
oxidation numbers of their number of valence
electrons.
6. The sum of oxidation numbers in a
neutral compound is zero.
(+1) + (-1) = 0 (+2) + 2(-1) = 0 2(+1) + (-2) = 0
7. The sum of the oxidation numbers of a
polyatomic ion is equal to the charge of the
ion.
(-3) + 4(+1) = +1 (+4) + 3(-2) = -2
Assign oxidation states to all elements in an
equation and compare elements as reactants
and products.
Ca(s) + HNO
3
(aq) Ca(NO
3
)
2
(aq) + NO
2
(g) + H
2
O(l)
0 +1 -2 +5 +2 -2 +5 -2 +4 -2 +1