Oxidation-Reduction

(REDOX) reactions
Involve a transfer of electrons from one reactant
to another

Tutorial 1 Oxidation

- Oxidation States Loss of electrons

- Balancing Redox Equations
Reduction

Gain of electrons

LEO the lion says GER

Tro - Sections 4.9, 18.2
Lose Electrons: Gain Electrons:
Oxidation Reduction
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Redox Reaction Example

Iron Rusts

4 Fe(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Fe2O3

Notice that the atomic iron has become a Oxidation States

cation and oxygen has become an anion

Metals have a tendency to be oxidized

Non-Metals have a tendency to be

reduced

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Assigning Oxidation States

Oxidation States
Rule Applies to... Oxidation Number Exceptions
Elements 0 NONE
An oxidation state is a “pretend charge” that Monoatomic ions Ion’s charge NONE
is assigned to an atom in compound. They In peroxides
Oxygen -2
allow us to: (H2O2) -1
Identify a redox reaction In hydrides
Hydrogen +1
(CaH2) -1
See how electrons are transferred from The element(s) which attract electrons
Molecular most strongly will have an oxidation
one reactant to another. N/A
Compounds number equal to the charge it would
have if it was an ion
Remember, the total charge on an ion or compound is
equal to the sum of all of the oxidation numbers
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 Worked Example Worked Example
Determine the oxidation numbers of As and S in As2S3 Determine the oxidation numbers of P, S and Cl in PSCl3

Sulfur (S) attracts electrons more than Arsenic (As) and Sulfur and Chlorine attract electrons most strongly.
therefore it would have an oxidation number of -2 (equal Sulfur normally has a charge of -2 and chlorine
to the charge it would normally have) normally has a charge of -1.

For the sum of the oxidation numbers to be zero, For the sum of the oxidation numbers to be zero,
arsenic (As) must have a positive oxidation number: phosphorus must have a positive oxidation number:

0 = (2) (Ox # As) + (3) (Ox # S) 0 = (1) (Ox # P) + (1) (Ox # S) + (3) (Ox # Cl)
0 = (2) (x) + (3) (-2) 0 = (1) (x) + (1) (-2) + (3) (-1)

x = +3 x = +5
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Sample Problem (A)

Assigning Oxidation Numbers

Assign oxidation numbers to each atom in

the following compounds and polyatomic ions:
1. KMnO4 6. F2 Identifying and Describing
2. H2SO4 7.C4H6O Redox Reactions
3. H2PtCl6 8.Cl2O7

4. PO43-

5. Cr2O72-

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Identifying Redox Worked Example

Reactions
Is the following reaction a redox reaction?
A redox reaction involves both reduction and
2 Li(s) + Cl2(g) 2 LiCl(s)
oxidation
Reduction
To determine if a reaction is a redox reaction we 0 -1
must assign oxidation numbers to all atoms on both 0 +1
Oxidation
sides of the equation.
The oxidation states for both Li and Cl are not
If the oxidation number for any kind of atom is the same on both sides of the equation,
not the same on both sides of the equation the therefore, THIS IS A REDOX REACTION.
reaction involves oxidation and reduction. Li is oxidized Cl2 is reduced

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 Oxidizing and Reducing Sample Problem (B)
Agents Identifying and Describing Redox Equations

The oxidizing and reducing agents in a redox reaction will Do each following reactions represent a redox
always be one of the reactants. reaction? If so, identify the oxidizing and
reducing agents.
To determine them, we look at what one reactant is doing to
the another reactant. 1. HCl(aq) + NaOH H2O(l) + NaCl(aq)
Essentially... 2. Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Li(s) LiNO3(aq) + Cu(s)
The reactant that is oxidized is reducing the other
3. CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) 2 H2O(l) + CO2(g)
reactant, it is said to be the reducing agent

The reactant that is reduced is oxidizing the other 4. Na(s) + Cl2(g) NaCl(s)
reactant, it is said to be the oxidizing agent

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Balancing Redox Equations

Remember, redox reactions involve a transfer of
electrons from one reactant to another.

Balancing Redox Equations To balance an equation for a redox reaction we must

make sure that the equation is balanced for atoms
(using the half-reaction method)
and balanced for charge.

Balancing redox equations is more complicated than

balancing other types of equations.

The procedure is listed in steps on the following

slide...

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Redox Equation Worked Example

Balancing Procedure Balance the following redox reaction if it occurs in
acidic conditions:
1. Assign oxidation numbers to all atoms

2. Split the reaction into two half-reactions (one for oxidation and one Al(s) + MnO4-(aq) MnO2(s) + Al(OH)4-(aq)
for reduction)

3. Balance atoms other O and H. Balance O with water. Balance H with

H+
The half-reactions and oxidation states are:
4. Balance charge with electrons

5. Make the number of electrons in each half-reaction equal by

Al(s) Al(OH)4-
0 +3 -2 +1
multiplying one or both reactions by an integer.

6. Recombine the half-reactions canceling electrons and other species

7. If the conditions are basic, add the same number of OH- ions to both MnO4-(aq) MnO2(s)
sides of the equation to cancel H+. +7 -2 +4 -2

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Balance atoms (other atoms, then O, then H):

Al(s) + 4 H2O(l) Al(OH)4-(aq) + 4 H+(aq)

Sample Problem (C)
Balancing Redox Equations
MnO4-(aq) + 4 H+(aq) MnO2(s) + 2 H2O(l)

Balance Charge (with e-) Balance the following redox equation in acidic
solution:
Al(s) + 4 H2O(l) Al(OH)4-(aq) + 4 H+(aq) + 3e-
MnO4-(aq) + 4 H+(aq) + 3e- MnO2(s) + 2 H2O(l) I-(aq) + NO2-(aq) I2(s) + NO(g)

* No need to multiply equations by integers since the

number of electrons in each is already equal.
Balance the following redox equation in basic
Recombine the two half-reactions (cancelling species) soluion:

Al(s) + 2 H2O(l) + MnO4-(aq) Al(OH)4-(aq) + MnO2(s) H2O2(aq) + ClO2(aq) ClO2-(aq) + O2(g)

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