Redox

Oxidation & Reduction

Oxidation and reduction take place together at the same time in the same reaction.

These are called redox reactions.

There are three definitions of oxidation. It is a reaction in which:

1. Oxygen is added to an element or a compound.
2. An element, ion or compound loses electrons.
3. The oxidation state of an element is increased.
4. Hydrogen is removed from an element or a compound.
Increase in oxidation state is known as Oxidation.

There are three definitions of reduction. It is a reaction in which:

1. Oxygen is removed from an element or a compound.
2. An element, ion or compound gains electrons.
3. The oxidation state of an element is decreased.
4. Hydrogen is added to an element or a compound.
Decrease in oxidation state is known as reduction.
Examples of Oxidation

C + O2 = CO2 (Adding of O2)

SO2 + O2 = SO4 1 (Adding of O2)
Nae = Na+1 + e- (Loss of electrons)
Fe+2 = Fe+3 + e- (Loss of electrons)
HCl + MnO2 = MnCl2 + H2O + Cl2 (Hydrogen removed)

Examples of Reduction
CuO + H2 = Cu2 + H2O (Removal of Oxygen)
Fe+3 + e- = Fe+2 (Gain of electrons)
Cl2 + H2 = 2HCl

Redox reactions

Definition: The reaction in which both oxidation and reduction are taking place
simultaneously

Example

CuO + H2 = Cu + H2O
Oxidation State

Definition: The charges present on atoms in a compound is called oxidation state and
sum of all oxidation states in a compound is equal to zero. That's why a compound as
a whole is a neutral substance.

The oxidation state helps you to keep track of the movement of electrons in a redox
process.

It is written as a +/- sign followed by a number.

Eg O2- means that it is an atom of oxygen that has an oxidation state of -2. It is not
written as O2- as this refers to the ion and its charge.

Example: [Na+1 Cl-1]° oxidation states

How to Calculate Oxidation State

Points

1. Every independent atom and diatomic elemental molecules has zero oxidation state.
Example: C°, Na°, Cl2°, P4 etc

2. Group 1 = +1 (in their compounds).

Group 2 = +2 (in their compounds).
Group 3 = +3 (in their compounds).

3. H = +1 (Except in metal hydride where it is taken as "-1".

4. Oxygen = -2 (in it's compounds).

5. Sum of all oxidation states in a compound is equal to zero

Examples:
1. H2SO4. S=? 2. Na2Cr2O7. Cr=? 3. NaNlO. Cl=?
+2 + x +(-8) = 0 +2 + 2x +(-14) = 0 +1 + x +(-2) = 0
X = +6 2x = 14 - 2 x=2-1
x = +6 x = +1

How to Calculate oxidation state of an ion

1. (SO4)-2. S=? 2. (CO3)-2. C=? 3. (CuCl4)-2. Cu=?
x +(-8) = -2 x +(-6) = -2 x +(-4) = -2
x - 8 = -2 x = -2 + 6 x = -2 + 4
x = +6 x = +4 x = +2
Examples of Redox reactions
Question: Identify the substances oxidized and reduced in terms of electrons.

Note: Majority reactions are redox reactions.

Examples
Note: All reaction are not redox
Examples

1. Every add - Base reaction

H+1Cl-1 + Na+1O-2H+1 = Na+1Cl-1 + H2+1O-2

2. Precipitation reactions
Ag+1[NO3-1] + Na+1Cl-1 = Ag+1Cl-1 + Na+1[NO-13]
 ur

Oxidising agent
A substance that oxidises another substance, in so doing becoming itself reduced.

It is an acceptor of electrons and hydrogen, donor of oxygen.

Common examples include hydrogen peroxide, fluorine and chlorine.

Reducing agent

A substance that reduces another substance, in so doing becoming itself oxidised.

It is an donor of electrons and hydrogen, acceptor of oxygen.

Common examples include carbon and hydrogen.

The process of reduction is very important in the chemical industry as a means of

extracting metals from their ores .

Question: Identify oxidizing agents and reducing agents in the following

equations and give reasons in terms of electrons
Identifying redox reactions
Redox reactions can be identified by the changes in the oxidation states when a
reactant goes to a product

Example

Chlorine + potassium iodide → potassium chloride + iodine

Cl2 + 2KI → 2KCl + I2

Chlorine has become reduced as its oxidation state has decreased from 0 to -1 on
changing from the chlorine molecule to chloride ions:
Cl2(g) → 2Cl-(aq)

Iodine has been oxidized as its oxidation state has increased from -1 to 0 on
changing from iodide ions to the iodine molecule:
2I-(aq) → I2(s)

Identifying redox reactions by colour changes

The tests for redox reactions involve the observation of a color change in the
solution being analyze.

Two common examples are acidified potassium manganate (VII), and potassium
iodide.

Potassium manganate (VII), KMnO4, is an oxidizing agent which is often used to

test for the presence of reducing agents.

When acidified potassium manganate (VII) is added to a reducing agent its color
changes from pink-purple to colorless.

Potassium iodide, KI, is a reducing agent which is often used to test for the
presence of oxidizing agents.

When added to an acidified solution of an oxidising agent such as aqueous

chlorine or hydrogen peroxide, the solution turns a brown colour due to the
formation of iodine.
Redox and electron transfer
Example redox equation: electron loss/gain and oxidation state

Zinc + copper sulphate → zinc sulphate + copper

Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu

Writing this as an ionic equation:

Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) →Zn2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + Cu(s)

By analysing the ionic equation , it becomes clear that zinc has become oxidised as
its oxidation state has increased and it has lost electrons:
Zn(s) →Zn2+(aq)

Copper has been reduced as its oxidation state has decreased and it has gained
electrons:
Cu2+(aq) → Cu(s)