OXIDATION AND REDUCTION

REDOX REACTIONS
Definition:
Oxidation and reduction are in terms of:
i. loss or gain of oxygen
ii. Loss or gain of hydrogen
iii. Transfer of electrons
iv. Changes in oxidation number
Oxidation: - combination of substance with oxygen
- Loss of hydrogen
- Loss of electrons
- An increase in oxidation number
eduction: - removal of oxygen from substance
- !ain of hydrogen
- !ain of electrons
- A decrease in oxidation number
Oxidant / Oxidizing agent:
The substance that causes oxidation
Reductant / Reducing agent:
The substance that causes reduction
"m#ortant
$eutrali%ation and &reci#itation are
NOT redox reactions
Chemical reactions involving
OXIDATION and REDUCTION
occurring simultaneously.
A. Loss or gains of oxygen
Oxidation:
- Combination of substance with oxygen
eduction:
- emoval of oxygen from substance

'xam#le:
(CuO ) C (Cu ) CO
(
CuO loses its oxygen to form co##er. Carbon gains the oxygen to form carbon
dioxide.
CuO causes the oxidation of carbon. Carbon causes the reduction of CuO.

*aterial undergoes oxidation: Carbon+ C
*aterial undergoes reduction: Co##er,""- oxide+ CuO
Oxidi%ing agent . oxidant : Co##er,""- oxide+ CuO
educing agent . reductant : Carbon+ C
B. Loss or gains of hydrogen
Oxidation:
- loss of hydrogen
eduction:
- gain of hydrogen
'xam#le:
/
(
0 ) Cl
(
0 ) (/Cl
/
(
0 loses its hydrogen to form sulfur. Cl
(
gains the hydrogen to form /Cl.
/
(
0 causes the reduction of Cl
(
. Cl
(
causes the oxidation of /
(
0.
*aterial undergoes oxidation : /ydrogen sul#hide+ /
(
0
*aterial undergoes reduction : Chlorine+ Cl
(
Oxidi%ing agent . oxidant : Chlorine+ Cl
(
educing agent . reductant : /ydrogen sul#hide+ /
(
0
C. Tranfer of electrons
Oxidation:
- loss of electrons
eduction:
- gain of electrons
'xam#le 1: 2Daniell cell3
4n ) Cu
()
4n
()
) Cu
'lectrons transfer from %inc to co##er ,""- ions.
/alf reaction:
One %inc atom loses ( electrons to form one %inc ion.
4inc is oxidi%ed to %inc ions.
Oxidi%ing half-e5uation: 4n 4n
()
) (e
-
/alf reaction:
One co##er,""- ion gains ( electron to form one co##er atom. Co##er,""- ion is
reduced to co##er.
eduction half-e5uation: Cu
()
) (e Cu
Co##er,""- ions act as oxidizing agent because it acce#ts electrons.
4inc acts as reducing agent because it releases electrons.
Oxidi%ing half-e5uation: 4n 4n
()
) 2e
-
eduction half-e5uation: Cu
()
) 2e
-
Cu
2balanced the number of electron #lease3
4n ) Cu
()
) 2e
-
Cu ) 4n
()
) 2e
-
Thus6
"onic '5uation : 4n ) Cu
()
4n
()
) Cu
Chemical e5uation:
4n ) Cu0O
7
4n0O
7
) Cu
2note: the sum of the two half-e5uations gives the
ionic e5uation3
Cancel te electrons
D. Changes in oxidation number
Oxidation nu!"er:
The oxidation number of an element is the carge that the atom of the element would
have if com#lete trans#er o# electron occurs.

Ti#s from the rules:
the oxidation number for atom and molecule is %ero
The oxidation number for monoatomic ion is e5ual to its charge.
the sum of oxidation numbers of all elements in the com#ound is %ero
the sum of oxidation number of all elements in #olyatomic ions is e5ual to
the charge of the ions
Oxidation:
- an increase in oxidation number
eduction:
- a decrease in oxidation number
'xam#le: 2 " use the same exam#le but from different #ers#ective3
4n ) Cu
()
4n
()
) Cu
2'asy way to detect which substance is oxidi%ed or reduced3
The oxidation number of %inc+ 4n increases from
$ to %2. 4n undergoes oxidation to %inc ions+ 4n
()
.
The oxidation number of co##er,""- ions+ Cu
()
decreases from %2 to $. Cu
()

undergoes reduction to co##er+ Cu.
Co##er,""- ions+ Cu
()
act as oxidizing agent.
4inc+ 4n acts as reducing agent.
Oxidi%ing half-e5uation: 4n 4n
()
) 2e
-
eduction half-e5uation: Cu
()
) 2e
-
Cu
"onic '5uation : 4n ) Cu
()
4n
()
) Cu
)(
8
Oxidation nu!"er
4n
4n
()
Cu
Cu
()
Oxidation
(loses electrons)
Reduction
(gains electrons)
2$ote: every redox reaction &UST have half e5uations and ionic e5uation3
'xam#le:
(*g ) O
(
(*gO
Describe the #rocess.
The oxidation number of magnesium+ *g increases from $ to %2. *g undergoes
oxidation to magnesium ions+ *g
()
.
Oxidi%ing half-e5uation: *g *g
()
) 2e
-
1 magnesium atom loses ( electrons to from 1 magnesium ions. *g undergoes
oxidation to magnesium ions+ *g
()
.
The oxidation number of oxygen+ O
(
decreases from $ to -2. O
(
undergoes reduction
to oxide ions+ O
(-
.
eduction half-e5uation: O
(
) 'e
-
(O
(-

1 molecule of oxygen gains 7 electrons to form ( oxide ions. O
(
undergoes reduction
to oxide ions+ O
(-
.
Oxygen+ O
(
act as oxidizing agent.
*agnesium+ *g acts as reducing agent.
Oxidi%ing half-e5uation: *g *g
()
) 2e
-
,9(-
2"t becomes: (*g (*g
()
) 7e3
eduction half-e5uation: O
(
) 'e
-
(O
(-

2balanced the number of electrons for both half e5uation3
)(
8
Oxidation nu!"er
*g
*g
()
O
(-
O
(
Oxidation (loses electrons)
Reduction (gains electrons)
-(
(*g ) O
(
) 'e
-
(*g
()
) (O
(-
) 'e
-

Thus6
"onic '5uation:

(*g ) O
(
(*g
()
) (O
(-
or
(*g ) O
(
(*gO
Cancel te electrons