REDOX

Transfer of electron at a distance

What is means by transfer of electron at a distance?
When oxidizing agent and reducing agent solutions is
separated by an electrolyte in a U-Tube, redox reactions
occur by transfer of electron using connecting wire. This
electron transfer is call transfer of electron at a distance.

Look at this diagram :

G

e
Negative
terminal
Reducing
agent
Electrolyte

Galvanometer
e
+ Positive
terminal
Oxidizing
agent
U-Tube

The reducing agent undergoes oxidation

(loss of electron)
The oxidizing agent undergoes reduction
(gain of electron)

Solution that can react as oxidizing agent is the

substances that undergoes reduction process
Solution
Acidified potassium
manganate(VII),
KMnO4
Acidified potassium
dichromate(VI) ,
K2Cr2O7

Chlorine, Cl2
Bromine, Br2
Iodine, I2

Half equation (gain of electron)

and changes colour of solution

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e
Mn2+ + 4H2O
(purple to colourless)
Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e
2Cr3+ + 7H2O
(orange to green)
Cl2 + 2e 2Cl(pale yellow to colourless)
Br2 + 2e 2Br(reddish brown to colourless)
I2 + 2e 2I(brown to colourless)

Give extra attention to half equation for acidified

potassium manganate(VII) solution and acidified
potassium dicrhomate(VI)solution.
(fisrt time we see this half equation, must memorize)

Solution that can react as reducing agent is

undergoes oxidation process

Iron(II) sulphate,
FeSO4

Half equation
(loss of electron) and changes
colour of solution
Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e
(green to brown)

Stanum(II)
chloride, SnCl2

Sn2+ Sn4+ + 2e
(both of the ions is colourless)

Solution name

Potassium chloride,
KCl

2Cl- Cl2 + 2e
(colourless to pale yellow)

Potassium bromide,
2Br- Br2 + 2e
KBr
(colourless to reddish brown)
Potassium iodide,
KI

2I- I2 + 2e
(colourless to brown)

Remember :
i. Electron transfer from reducing agent to
oxidizing agent through connecting wire.
ii. Carbon/graphite electrode that is immersed in
reducing agent act as negative terminal.
iii. Carbon/graphite electrode that is immersed in
oxidising agent act as positive terminal.
iv. The deflection of galvanometer needle shows
the electron flowing/moving.
Few reaction that you must know
Example 1:

Galvanometer

e
Negative
terminal

e
+ Positive
terminal
Acidified
potassium
manganate(VII)
solution,
KMnO4 0.1 mol
dm-3

iron(II) sulphate
solution, FeSO4
0.1 mol dm-3
Sulphuric acid, H2SO4
0.1 mol dm-3

U-Tube

Can you predict what will happen?

Tips : determine the solution that react as oxidizing

agent an reducing agent first.
Oxidizing agent

: acidified potassium
manganate(VII) solution.

Reducing agent

: iron(II) sulphate solution

If you can identify, the rest will be much easier.

[Look at the list of oxidant and reductant that you have prepared
above]

Oxidation process (reducing agent)

Half equation : Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e
- 1 iron(II)ion /Fe2+ loss 1 electron to produce
1 iron(III)ion/Fe3+
- Fe2+ is oxidize to Fe3+
- iron(II)ion react as reducing agent
- oxidation number of iron is increase from +2
to +3
- the colour of the solution is turn from (light)
green to brown
-

What will happen to the electrons that has been

released?
- The electron will be released through
negative terminal (carbon that is
immersed in iron(II)sulphate solution),
and flow through connecting wire to
positive terminal (carbon that is immersed
in acidified potassium manganate (VII)

solution), so, the galvanometer needle

will deflect.
- Manganate(VII) ion, MnO4- will gain
electron and undergoes the reduction
process.
Reduction process (oxidizing agent)
Half equation: MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ +4H2O
- 1 Manganate (VII) ion, MnO4- gain 5 electron
produce 1 mangan(II) ion, Mn2+
- Manganate(VII) ion is reduced to mangan(II)
ion
- Mangnate (VII) ion act as oxidizing agent
- oxidation number for mangan is decreasing
from +7 to +2
- the colour of solution is changes from purple
to colourless
Can you write the total ionic equation for this
reaction?

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ + 4H2O

5Fe2+
5Fe3+ + 5e
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+
How this process is made? Maybe this question will be
ask in PAPER2 this year (structure/essay)
Example 2:
G

Galvanometer

Bromine
water
Sulphuric
acid, H2SO4
0.1 mol dm-3
Can you predict what will happen?

Potassium
iodide
solution,
KI
0.1 mol
U-tube
dm-3

Tips : recognize the solution that react as oxidizing

agent and reducing agent first.
Oxidising agent : bromine water
Reducing agent : potassium iodide solution
Negative terminal: The carbon that immersed in
potassium iodide solution
Positive terminal: The carbon that immersed in bromine
solution/water
After you have recognize it, the others will be easier.
Look at the table that you have prepare above,
Oxidation process / (Reducing agent)
Half equation : 2I- I2 + 2e

- 2 iodide ions loss 2 electron to produce 1

-

molecule of iodine
Iodide ion is oxidize to iodine
Iodide ion react as reducing agent
Oxidation number for iodine increase from -1 to
0. thus oxidation occur
Colourless solution change to brownish yellow

What will occur to this releasing electron?

- This electron will be released through negative
terminal
- graphite electrode that is immersed in potassium
iodide solution, and flow through connecting wire
to positive terminal
- graphite electrode that is immersed in bromine
solution),
- Thus, galvanometer needle will deflect.
- bromine will gain electron and reduction process
will occur.
Reduction process

Half equation for reduction

: Br2 + 2e 2Br-

- 1 molecule bromine gains 2 electron to produce 2

-

bromide ion
Bromine is reduce to bromide ion.
Bromine react as oxidizing agent
Oxidation number for bromine decreasing from 0
to -1
Brownish-yellow solution change to colourless

Can you write the total ionic equation for this reaction?

Br2 + 2I- 2Br- + I2

example 3: (cont 5.1 & 5.2 :28.7.2008)
G

Galvanometer

stanum(II)
chloride
solution,
SnCl2
0.1 mol dm-3
Sulphuric acid,
H2SO4 0.1 mol

Acidified
potassium
dichromate
solution,
K2Cr2O7
U-Tube

dm-3

Tips : recognize the solution that react as oxidizing

agent and reducing agent first.
Oxidizing agent : acidified potassium
dicrhomate(VI)
Terminal positive: Carbon electrod that is immersed

into acidified potassium

dichromate(VI)
Reducing agent : stanum(II) chloride solution
Terminal negative: carbon immersed into stanum(II)
chloride solution
Oxidation process (reducing agent) Cont: 5.1
Half equation : Sn2+ Sn4+ + 2e
[observation: no changes in colour of solution]
Cl- Cl2 + 2e
[observation: The colour changes from colourless to
pale yellow]
(depend on the question)

- 1 stanum(II) ion loss 2 electrons to produce 1

stanum(IV) ion
- Stanum(II) ion is oxidize to stanum(IV) ion
- Stanum(II) ion react as reducing agent
- Oxidation number for stanum is increasing from
+2 to +4

What will occur to this releasing electron?

- This electron will be released through negative
terminal
- graphite electrode that is immersed in stanum(II)
chloride solution) is negative terminal, and flow
through connecting wire to positive terminal
- electrode that is immersed in acidified potassium
dichromate(VI) solution is positive terminal,
- Galvanometer needle will deflect.
- Dicrhomate(VI)ion will gain electron and
reducing process will occur
Reduction process / (oxidising agent)
half equation for reduction:
Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

- 1 dichromate(VI) ion gain 6 electron to produce

-

2 chromium(III)ion
dichromate(VI) ion is reduced to
2 chromium(III) ion
dichromate(VI) ion react as oxidizing agent.
Oxidation number for chromium decreasing from
+6 to +3
Orange solution turn to green

Can you write the total ionic equation for this reaction?
Can you answer the following question;
i. State the electrode that react as positive terminal
Carbon electrode that immersed in acidified
K2Cr2O7 solution
ii. State the electrode that react as negative terminal
Carbon electrode that immersed in SnCl2 solution
iii. Mark the direction of the flow of current at the
wire
iv. Name the substance that undergoes oxidation
process
stanum(II) Ion
v. Name the substance that undergoes reduction
process
dichromate(VI) Ion
vi. Name the oxidizing agent
Acidified potassium dicrhomate(VI) solution
/dikromat(VI)ion
vii. Name the reduction agent

stanum(II)chloride solution / stanum(II)ion

viii.State the observation at the end of this reaction
Colour of solution for acidified potassium
dicrhomate(VI)solution change from purple to
green
ix. Write the half equation for the both electrode
Sn2+ ----> Sn4+ + 2e
Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e ---> 2Cr2+ + 7H2O
x. Write the total ionic equation for this reaction
3Sn2+ + Cr2O72- + 14H+ ---> 3Sn4+ + 2Cr2+ +
7H2O