Syllabus

 Oxidation and reduction in electronic concept

 Oxidation number and rules to assign oxidation number
 Assign oxidation number of underlined element
 Redox reaction and auto redox reaction
 Identify oxidizing and reducing agent
 Balance redox reaction by
(i) Oxidation number change method
(ii) Ion electron or half equation method
Oxidation and reduction (Classical concept)
The chemical process which involves the addition of oxygen or any electronegative
part to form compound or the removal of hydrogen or any electropositive part
from the compound is called oxidation. For example,
𝐶 + 𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑂2 [C is oxidized]
𝑀𝑔 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2 [Mg is oxidized]
2𝐻2 𝑆 + 𝑂2 → 2𝐻2 𝑂 + 2𝑆 [H2S is oxidized]
2𝐾𝐵𝑟 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 2𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐵𝑟2 [KBr is oxidized]

The chemical process which involves the addition of hydrogen or any

electropositive part to form compound or the removal of oxygen or any
electronegative part from the compound is called reduction. For example,
𝑁2 + 3𝐻2 → 2𝑁𝐻3 [N2 is reduced]
𝑀𝑔 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2 [Cl2 is reduced]
𝐶𝑢𝑂 + 𝐻2 → 𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻2 𝑂 [CuO is reduced]
2𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3 + 𝐻2 𝑆 → 2𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝑆 [FeCl3 is reduced]

In everyday life oxidation and reduction occurs in

(i) Burning of fuel
(ii) Rusting of iron
(iii) Photosynthesis (iv) Electrolysis process etc.
Oxidation and Reduction (Electronic concept)
The chemical process which involves the loss of electrons is called oxidation. It is
also called de-electronation. During oxidation there is increase in positive charge
or decrease in negative charge. For example,
𝑁𝑎 → 𝑁𝑎 + + 𝑒 −
𝑀𝑔 → 𝑀𝑔++ + 2𝑒 −
𝐹𝑒 ++ → 𝐹𝑒 +++ + 𝑒 −
2𝐶𝑙 − → 𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝑒 − , 𝑀𝑛𝑂4−− → 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− + 𝑒 −

The chemical process which involves the gain of electrons is called reduction. It is
also called electronation. During reduction there is increase in negative charge or
decrease in positive charge. For example,
𝐶𝑎++ + 2𝑒 − → 𝐶𝑎
𝐶𝑢++ + 𝑒 − → 𝐶𝑢+
𝑂2 + 4𝑒 − → 2𝑂−−
𝐹𝑒 𝐶𝑁 6 3− + 𝑒 − → 𝐹𝑒 𝐶𝑁 6 4−

Q. Find which species is oxidized and which one is reduced in following reactions?
𝑖 2𝐴𝑙 + 3𝐶𝑙2 → 2𝐴𝑙𝐶𝑙3
𝑖𝑖 𝑍𝑛 + 2𝐻 + → 𝑍𝑛++ + 𝐻2
Oxidation number (ON)
It is defined as the residual charge appeared on a single atom when other atoms
are removed as ions. It is a hypothetical term and has no theoretical justification.
General rules to assign ON:
1. The oxidation number of free or uncombined element is zero. For example, H2,
O2, Zn, C etc.
2. The ON of hydrogen in combined form (HCl, H2SO4 etc) is +1. But in metal
hydride (NaH, CaH2 etc) it is -1.
3. The ON of oxygen in combined form is -2 (H2O, NaOH etc) . But in peroxide
(H2O2, Na2O2, BaO2 etc) it is -1. In superoxide (KO2) it is -1/2.
4. In combined form, the ON of alkali metal (Na, K) is always +1, the ON of
alkaline earth metal (Mg, Ca) is always +2, that of Al is +3.
5. The ON of halogen in combined form (NaCl, CaCl2) is -1. But in oxyhalogen
compounds, halogen may have different values. Note: F always have ON -1 in
combined form.
6. The algebraic sum of ON in a neutral compound is always zero. It helps to find
the ON of other elements.
7. In ion, sum of ON of individuals is equal to the charge on that ion.
8. Total ON of CN is -1, CO & NO is 0,
Q. Find the oxidation number of underlined element of following.
(i) KMnO4, K2MnO4
Let, ON of Mn is x.
Now, +1+x+(-2)×4 = 0
Or, 1+x-8 = 0
Or, x = 7
Therefore, ON of Mn in KMnO4 is +7.
(ii) K2Cr2O7, NaBH4, Na2B4O7, Na2S2O3,
(iii) H2SO4, H2SO3, HNO3, HNO2, H3PO4, H2CO3, HClO4
(iv) NaClO, NaBrO3, Na2O2
(v) NH3, NH4Cl, CH3OH, HCOONa, C6H12O6
(vi) 𝑵𝑂3−, 𝑵𝐻4+ , 𝑺𝑂4−− , 𝑴𝒏𝑂4−−
(vii) NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4
𝐿𝑒𝑡, 𝑁𝐻4 𝑁𝑂3 → 𝑁𝐻4+ + 𝑁𝑂3−
𝐼𝑛 𝑁𝐻4+ , 𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑂𝑁 𝑜𝑓 𝑁 = 𝑥, 𝐼𝑛 𝑁𝑂3− , 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑂𝑁 𝑜𝑓 𝑁 = 𝑦
𝑁𝑜𝑤, 𝑥 + +1 × 4 = +1 Now, 𝑦 + −2 × 3 = −1
𝑂𝑟, 𝑥 = −3 𝑂𝑟, 𝑦 = +5

(viii) FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4

(ix) K4[Fe(CN)6], Ni(CO)4
(x) CaOCl2
The differences between oxidation number and valency

Oxidation number (ON) Valency (V)

(i) It is the electric charge on
atom in free or combined state.
(ii) It can be +ve, -ve, zero or
fractional values.
(iii) ON of an element may be
different in different compound.
(i) It is the combining capacity of an
element by number.
(ii) It is always small +ve whole number
or zero.
(iii) It is usually fixed except variable
valency.

Q. Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation number.

Ans: Oxidation is the process of increase in ON of an element. Reduction is the
process of decrease in ON of an element. For example,
+2 -2 0 0 +2-2
𝑍𝑛𝑂 + 𝐶 → 𝑍𝑛 + 𝐶𝑂 Here, Zn involves in reduction and C involves in oxidation.

Oxidizing agent (Oxidant): The substance which oxidizes other but itself gets
reduced is called oxidant. It gains electrons and reduced to lower oxidation number.
For example, O2, O3, Cl2, H2SO4, KMnO4, K2Cr2O7, HIO3, HNO3, SO2 etc.
Reducing agent (Reductant): The substance which reduces other but itself gets
oxidizes is called reductant. It loses electrons and oxidizes to higher oxidation
number. For example, [H], H2, C, CO, HBr, H2S, SO2, H2C2O4, metals etc.
Q. Identify oxidant and reductant in following reaction.
+2 -2 0 0 +1 -2
𝐶𝑢𝑂 + 𝐻2 → 𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻2 𝑂 Here, CuO gets reduced so it is oxidizing agent and H2
gets oxidized so it is reducing agent.
𝐻2 𝑂2 + 𝐾𝐼 → 𝐾𝑂𝐻 + 𝐼2 ………………………………………………………

Redox reaction: The reaction in which oxidation and reduction takes place
simultaneously is called redox reaction. Every redox reaction can be split into two
halves. Oxidation and reduction are complementary of one another. They go side
by side.
Q. Show that following reaction is a redox reaction.
(i) Mg + Cl2 → MgCl2 (ii) Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2
Ans: 0 0 +2 -1

Mg + Cl2 → MgCl2
Oxidation half: 𝑀𝑔 → 𝑀𝑔++ + 2𝑒 −
Reduction half: 𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝑒 − → 2𝐶𝑙 −
Here Mg changes into Mg++ by losing 2 electrons and Cl2 changes into 2Cl- by
gaining that 2 electrons. Hence oxidation and reduction go side by side.
Auto-redox reaction:
The reaction in which same species undergoes oxidation as well as reduction is
called auto-redox reaction or disproportionation reaction. For example
+1 -2+1 0 +1 -1 +1 +5 -2 +1 -2
(i) 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 + 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂
(ii) 𝑂𝐻− + 𝐵𝑟2 → 𝐵𝑟 − + 𝑂𝐵𝑟 − + 𝐻2 𝑂
(iii) 𝐻2 𝑂2 → 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝑂2