CHEMISTRY FOR

ENGINEERS
 Course Outline
1. Electrochemical Energy
1.1 Oxidation – Reduction Reaction
1.2 Balancing Oxidation –Reduction Equations
1.3 Voltaic Cell
1.4 Cell EMF
1.5 Batteries
1.6 Corrosion
1.7 Electrolysis
Course Outline

2. Nuclear Chemistry and Energy

2.1 Radioactivity
2.2 Patterns of Nuclear Stability
2.3 Detection of Radioactivity
2.4 Nuclear Fission
2.5 Nuclear Fusion
2.6 Biological Effects of Radiation
Course Outline
3. Fuels
4. The Chemistry of Engineering Materials
5. Basic Concepts of Crystal Structure
5.1 Metals
5.2 Polymers
5.3 Engineered Nano Materials
Course Outline

6. The Chemistry of the Atmosphere

6.1 The Chemistry of Water
6.2 Soil Chemistry
7. Chemical Safety
8. Special Topics / Specific to field of expertise
Balancing Oxidation
Reduction Equation

 Whereas acid-base reaction can be characterized as

proton-transfer process the class of reaction called
oxidation-reduction or redox reactions
 Oxidation Reaction – refers to the half reaction that
involves loss of electrons
 Reduction Reaction – refers to the half reaction that
involves gain of electrons
 Oxidation Reaction
S0 → S+2 + 2e-

 Reduction Reaction

S+2 + 2e- → S0
 2 Methods of Balancing
Redox Equation

 By Oxidation Number Method

 By ion Electrode Method

 Rules in Assigning Oxidation
number

 Any uncombined atom or any atom in a molecule of an

element is assigned an oxidation number of zero.
 The sum of the oxidation number of all the atoms in a
compound is zero since compound are electrically
neutral.
 The oxidation # of a monatomic ion is the same as the
change of the ion .
 The oxidation # of oxygen is -2. In peroxide the
oxidation # of Oxygen is -1.
 Steps in Balancing Redox Equation Using
the Oxidation # Method

 Determine the oxidation state of the different elements

in both the reactants and the products.
 Identify the elements whose oxidation states have
changed.
 Draw a bridge between the elements whose oxidation
states have changed, indicating the number of electrons
lost or gained per atom. This is the change in oxidation
number.
 The change of oxidation # must be multiplied by the
number of atoms undergoing such change. This is the
total # of electrons gained or loss.
 Determine the appropriate factors to equalize the
changes in oxidation numbers.
Balance the following using the oxidation # method:

1.) KMnO4 + Na2SO3 + H2SO4 → K2SO4 + MnSO4 + Na2SO4 + H2 O

2.) Cr2O3 + Na2CO3 + KNO3 → Na2CrO4 + CO2 + KNO2

3.) HgS + HNO3 + HCl → HgCl2 + NO + S0 + H2O

4.) K2S5 + HCl → H 2S + S0 + KCl

 Steps in Balancing Redox Equation Using
the Ion Electron Method
 Redox reaction occurring in acid medium :
1.) Write the skeleton half (reaction) equation based
on the species undergoing oxidation and
reduction.
2.) Balance each half-equation “ automatically” in the
order.
a.) atoms other than hydrogen and oxygen
b.) Oxygen atoms by adding water with the
appropriate coefficient, Hydrogen atom by
adding H+ With the appropriate coefficient.
3.) Examine the change on both sides of the half
reaction. To the more positive side, add the
correct # of electron to equalize the charge with
the other side.
4.) Multiply each entire half-reaction by the lowest factor
to equalize the # of electron lost and gain.

5.) Obtain the net redox equation by combining the half-

equation. Cancel species which are found in both sides
of the equation, then check by inspection.
 Redox reaction occurring in Base medium :
1.) Write the skeleton half (reaction) equation based
on the species undergoing oxidation and
reduction.
2.) Balance each half-equation “ automatically” in the
order.
a.) atoms other than hydrogen and oxygen
b.) Oxygen atoms by adding water with the
appropriate coefficient, Hydrogen atom by
adding H+ With the appropriate coefficient.
c.) Add OH on each side with the same value of
hydrogen ion.
3.) Examine the change on both sides of the half
reaction. To the more positive side, add the
correct # of electron to equalize the charge with
the other side.
4.) Multiply each entire half-reaction by the lowest factor
to equalize the # of electron lost and gain.

5.) Obtain the net redox equation by combining the half-

equation. Cancel species which are found in both sides
of the equation, then check by inspection.
 Balance the following half reaction using
the ion electron method
Example :

1.) Cr2O2 → Cr+3

2.) Mn+2 → MnO4
3.) NO3 → NH4
4.) SnO2 → SnO3
5.) NO3 → NO
I. Balance the ff. using the ion electron method :
( By application )
1.) H2S + Cr2O7 → So + Cr+3

2.) MnO4 + SO2 → Mn+2 + SO4

3.) Zn0 + NO3 → Zn+2 + NH4

4.) AlO2 + NO2 → Al0 + NO3

5.) MNO4 + NO2 → Mn+2 + NO3

 Electrochemistry – branch of chemistry that deals with
the relationships between electricity
and chemical reaction
 Voltaic Cell – the energy released in a spontaneous
redox reaction can be used to performed
electrical work.
- a device in which a transfer of electrons
takes place through an external pathway
rather than directly between reactants.
 Anode – the electrode at which oxidation occurs.
 Cathode – the electrode at which reduction occurs.
Anode: Zn (s) → Zn + 2e
0 +2 -

Cathode : Cu + 2e → Cu
+2 - o

Zn + Cu → Zn + Cu
o +2 +2 0
Electroplating – is a process involving oxidation
reduction reaction to protect an
object or for decorative effect.
2 types of conduction
1.) Metallic Conduction – refers to the movement of
electrons through a metal.
2.) Electrolytic Conduction – refers to the movement of ion
through a molten substance.

2 types of electrolytic Conductance

1.) Electrolytic Cell – electrical energy causes a chemical
reaction to take place.
2.) Galvanic Cell – chemical reaction produces electrical
energy.
 Stoichiometry of Electrolysis
 Coulomb - a unit used to measure the amount of electrical
energy that flows in one second by a current of
one ampere.
C = A x S
 Faraday ( F ) - the amount of energy required for the flow
of 1 mole of electrons.
1F = 96,500 coul = 1 equiv
 Ampere - used to measure the current flow
A = C/s
 Equivalent Weight - is the mass in grams that is equivalent
to 1 mole of electrons.
Example :
I. Determine the equivalent weight of the ff.
1.) Al+3 → Al+3 + 3e-

2.) Fe0 → Fe+2 + 2e-

3.) Fe+3 + 3e- → Fe0

Example :
1.) In the electrolysis of Copper Sulfate (CuSO4). How much
Copper is plated out in the Cathode by a current of 0.750
A in 10 minutes.
2.) How many coulomb would it take to deposit 1 gram of Ag0
from the solution of AgCl.
3.) How many grams of ( Zn+2 ) could be deposited by 96.5
coulomb.
4.) A (Ag+) solution is electrolyzed using a current of 3.75A.
What mass of (Ag0) plates out in 125 minutes.
Exercises :
1.) A (Ni+2) solution is electrolyzed using a current of 1.25A.
What mass of (Ni0) plates out in 30 minutes.
2.) How long would it take for a current of 100A to deposit
10 grams of (Fe0) from a solution of (Fe+2Cl-2).
3.) How many grams of (Al+3) could be deposited by a
current of 20A flowing for 1 hour.
4.) How many minutes will it take to plate out 6.0 grams of
(Cd0) from a (Cd+2) solution using a current of 6.0A.
Electromotive Force - the potential difference
between 2 half cell electrodes of a voltaic cell
which is measured in volt.

Standard Electrode Potential (E0)

- pertains to the electromotive force of the
cell, in which all the reactants and
products are present.
- the potential is measured with respect to
a standard (H+) electrode in volt.
 Oxidizing agent = is a substance that has the ability to
oxidize other substances.

 Reducing agent = is an element or compound that

losses an electron recipient in a
redox chemical reaction.
Example :
1.) Calculate the Emf of the following :
a.) Cu0 / Cu+2 // 2Ag+ / 2Ag0
Cu0red = + 0.34V
Ag0red = + 0.80V
b.) 2Al0 / 2Al+3 // 3Cd+2 / 3Cd0
Al0red = - 1.66V
Cd0red = - 0.40V
c.) 4Ni0 / 4Ni+2 // 3Ag+ / 3Ag0
Ni0red = - 0.250V
Ag0red = + 0.80 V
Exercises : Determine the Emf of the ff.
1.) 2Cr0 / 2Cr+3 // 3Cu+2 / 3Cu0
Cr0red = - 0.74V
Cu0red = + 0.34V
2.) 3Fe+3 / 3Fe0 // 2Sn0 / 2Sn+2
Fe0red = + 0.77V
Sn0red = + 0.15V
3.) 4Au+3 / 4Au0 // 2Pb+3 / 2Pb0
Au0red = + 1.4V
Pb0red = - 1.3V
NERST EQUATION - is the equation used to determine
the Emf of a cell in which the
constituents are present in
concentration other than the
standard.
Where :
E = the electrode potential of the new
concentration
E0 = the standard electrode potential
n = the number of moles of e- stated in the
half reaction
x and y = the coefficient in the balance equation
0.0591 = constant at 250 C
Example :
1.) For the reaction:
Al0 + Cu+2 → Al+3 + Cu0
Calculate the electrode potential E if
(Cd+2) = 1.0 x 10-4
(Al+3) = 1.0 x 10-3
Al0red = - 1.66V
Cu0red = + 0.34V
2. For the equation determine the potential of the
following:
2Mg0 + 3Fe+2 → 2Mg+2 + 3Fe0
(Fe+2) = 1.0 x 10-3
(Mg+2) = 1.0 x 10-2
Mg0red = - 2.37V
Fe0red = - 0.45V
3. Determine the electrode potential for the reaction
3Zn0 + 4Cd+2 → 3Zn+2 + 4Cd0
(Cd+2) = 7.50 x 10-2
(Zn+2) = 9.50 x 10-1
Cd0red = - 0.40V
Zn0red = -0.76V