Answers to Exercises

Lecture 1

ES 10: Chemistry for Engineers

David A. Agbayani

Note: These lecture slides are not meant to be published.

 Exercise 1-1
• Assign oxidation numbers to all the
elements in the following compounds:

1. Na2O

2. HNO2

3. Cr2O72-
 Recap: Rules in Assigning Oxidation
Numbers (1 of 2)
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na
2. Ions composed of only one atom: oxidation
number is same as charge on the ion
• e.g. O2-, Na+
3. Oxygen: -2 in most compounds, -1 in hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2) and peroxide ion (O22-)
4. Hydrogen: +1 in most compounds, -1 when
bonded to metals in binary compounds (LiH,
NaH)
 Recap: Rules in Assigning Oxidation
Numbers (2 of 2)

5. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine: -1

when occurring as halide ions
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
7. In a polyatomic ion, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the elements in the ion must
be equal to the net charge of the ion.
 Exercise 1-1
• Assign oxidation numbers to all the
elements in the following compounds:
x -2
2x – 2 = 0
1. Na2O Na2O x = +1
+1 x -2
1 + x + 2(-2) = 0
2. HNO2 HNO2 x = +3
x -2
3. Cr2O72- 2x + 7(-2) = -2
Cr2O 7
2-
x = +6
 Exercise 1-2
• Balance the following equation for the
reaction in an acidic medium.
2 
Fe  MnO 4  Fe 3   Mn 2
 Recap: Balancing Redox Reactions

1. Write the unbalanced equation for the

reaction in ionic form.
2. Separate the equation into two half-
reactions.
3. Balance each half-reaction.
4. Add the two half-reactions.
5. Verify.
 Exercise 1-2
• Balance the following equation for the
reaction in an acidic medium.
2 
Fe  MnO 4  Fe 3   Mn 2

 
1.
Assign oxidation
 
numbers (as in
Exercise 1-1) to check
whether the half-
reaction is oxidation or
reduction.
 Exercise 1-2
3+ ¿ ¿
 Oxidation 2+¿ → Fe ¿
: Fe
 Reduction : MnO 4− → Mn 2+¿ ¿

3.
 

No H and O atoms, so
¿ we balance the charges.
−
3+¿ + 𝑒 ¿
  Fe 2+¿ → Fe

 Reduction : MnO 4− → Mn 2+¿ ¿

− 2+¿+ 4 H2 O ¿
 MnO → Mn
4
2+¿ + 4 H2 O¿
− +¿ → Mn ¿
 MnO +8 H
4
− 2+¿ + 4 H2 O¿
− +¿ +5 𝑒 → Mn ¿
 MnO +8 H
4
 Exercise 1-2
Multiply oxidation half-
reaction by 5 to cancel
4.
 
out number of
electrons.
−
3+ ¿ +5 𝑒 ¿
 5 2 +¿ →5 Fe ¿
Fe
− 2+ ¿ +4 H 2 O ¿
− +¿+5 𝑒 → Mn ¿
 Reduction : MnO 4 + 8 H

ify! 
Step 5: Ver
 Exercise 1-3
• Balance the following equation for the
reaction in a basic medium.

− − −
CN + M nO 4 → CNO +MnO2
 
 Recap: Balancing Redox Reactions

1. Write the unbalanced equation for the

reaction in ionic form.
2. Separate the equation into two half-reactions.
3. Balance each half-reaction.
4. Add the two half-reactions.
5. Add OH- for every H+.
6. Verify. H   OH 
 H 2O
 Exercise 1-3
• Balance the following equation for the
reaction in a basic medium.
− − −
CN + M nO 4 → CNO +MnO2
 

− − −
1. CN + M nO 4 →CNO +MnO2
 

− −
2. CN → CNO
 

ns p ec t io n will
Initial i −
lead us to b
th
r
e
e a
fo
k
l
i ng
lowing
t his  
M nO 4 → MnO 2
down t o But which half-reactio
ns: n
half-reactio is oxidation, and whic
h
is reduction?
We ass ig n ox i d a tion Exercise 1-3
numbers!
x y a b -2 We assign dif
ferent
− variables on
C−
CN → CNO
  and N at
the products
side since
we are not ce
u l es f or C rtain
o r
We have n r e is no
which oxidat
ion
s o t h e numbers incr
an d N e t e rmine eased or
s to d
way for u d a t io n
decreased.
thei r o x i
numbers.
x + y = -1 a + b + (-2) = -1 Therefore,
a + b = +1 oxidation. 

But it can be observed that the sum of You can check this by
the oxidation numbers of C and N assigning oxidation
increased from -1 to +1. numbers for the other
half-reaction.
 Exercise 1-3
 Oxidation : CN − → CNO −
 Reduction : M nO 4− → MnO 2

3.
 

 CN − +H 2 O → CNO −
 CN − +H 2 O → CNO − +2 H +¿ ¿
−
 CN − +H −
O → CNO +2 H
+¿ +2 𝑒 ¿
2
 Exercise 1-3
 Reduction : M nO 4− → MnO 2
 MnO 4− → MnO 2 +2 H 2 O

 MnO − +4 H +¿ → MnO +2 H 2 2 O¿
4
−
− +¿+3 𝑒 → MnO2 +2 H2 O ¿
 MnO +4 H
4

( )x3
−
− +¿+3 𝑒 → MnO2+2 H2 O ¿
(  MnO
4 +4 H )x2
−
 3 CN− +2 MnO −
+2H
+¿ → 3 CNO +2 MnO 2+H2 O ¿
4
 Exercise 1-3
5  .

  + 2 OH− + 2 OH −

  Step 6: Verify! 

 3 CN− +2 MnO 4− + H 2 O → 3 CNO − +2 MnO 2 +2 OH−

 Exercise 1-4
• Balance the following equation:
2 3
Fe  Al  Fe  Al
• Draw a sketch of the electrochemical cell for
the above redox reaction, i.e. the two half-
cells, the salt bridge, and the load /
voltmeter.
• Write the cell diagram.
 Exercise 1-4
3+ ¿ ¿
 
2+¿+ Al → F e +Al ¿
Fe
3+¿ ¿
 
2+¿ +Al → Fe+ Al ¿
1. Fe
2 +¿ → Fe¿
2. Fe
 

3+¿ ¿
Al → Al
 
 Exercise 1-4
 Oxidation:     Al → Al3 +¿ ¿
  Reduction : Fe2+¿ →Fe ¿

3.
 

  Reduction : Fe2+¿ →Fe ¿

−
  Fe 2+¿+2 𝑒 → Fe¿
 Exercise 1-4
4.
 

( )x2
−
2+¿+2 𝑒 → Fe¿
(   Fe )x3
3+ ¿ + 3 Fe¿
 2 Al 2+¿ →2 Al ¿
+3 Fe
Step 5: Verify! 
 Exercise 1-4
• Balance the following equation:
2 3
Fe  Al  Fe  Al
• Draw a sketch of the electrochemical cell for
the above redox reaction, i.e. the two half-
cells, the salt bridge, and the load /
voltmeter.
• Write the cell diagram.
 Exercise 1-4
voltmeter

Al salt bridge Fe
(-) (+)

Al3+ solution Fe2+ solution

 Exercise 1-4
• Balance the following equation:
2 3
Fe  Al  Fe  Al
• Draw a sketch of the electrochemical cell for
the above redox reaction, i.e. the two half-
cells, the salt bridge, and the load /
voltmeter.
• Write the cell diagram.
 Exercise 1-4

  Al( 𝑠 ) ¿
 Exercise 1-4
• Balance the following equation:
2 3
Fe  Al  Fe  Al
• Draw a sketch of the electrochemical cell for
the above redox reaction, i.e. the two half-
cells, the salt bridge, and the load /
voltmeter.
• Write the cell diagram.
 Exercise 1-5
• The cell diagram for an electrochemical cell
is written as
Pt(s) | Fe2+(aq), Fe3+(aq) || Ag+(aq)| Ag(s)
• Write the equations for the half-reactions
that occur at the electrodes. Balance the
overall cell reaction.
• What is the cell potential (E°cell)?
o
EFe3
/Fe2
 0.771V o
E Ag 
/ Ag
 0.800 V
Hint: The platinum (Pt) electrode only acts as a catalyst for the reaction,
but does not react with any of the chemical species.
 Exercise 1-5
s
To help us process, let’
draw a sketch of the
voltmeter
galvanic cell.

Pt salt bridge Ag
(-) (+)

Fe2+-Fe3+ solution Ag+ solution

 Exercise 1-5
The platinum
3+ ¿ ¿ (Pt) does
 Oxidation 2+¿ → Fe no¿ t appear in t
: Fe he half-
r e a
+¿ → Ag ¿ction since it only
  Reduction : Ag serves as a c
atalyst.

3+ ¿ ¿
 Oxidation 2+¿ → Fe ¿
: Fe
−
3+¿ + 𝑒 ¿
2+ ¿ → Fe ¿
  Fe

  Reduction : Ag +¿ → Ag ¿
−
+¿ +𝑒 → Ag ¿
  Ag
 Exercise 1-4

−
3+¿ + 𝑒 ¿
2+ ¿ → Fe ¿
Fe 
−
  Ag+¿ +𝑒 → Ag ¿

3 + ¿+ Ag¿
+ ¿ → Fe ¿
  Fe 2+ ¿+ Ag ¿

Verify! 
 Exercise 1-5
• The cell diagram for an electrochemical cell
is written as
Pt(s) | Fe2+(aq), Fe3+(aq) || Ag+(aq)| Ag(s)
• Write the equations for the half-reactions
that occur at the electrodes. Balance the
overall cell reaction.
• What is the cell potential (E°cell)?
o
EFe3
/Fe2
 0.771V o
E Ag 
/ Ag
 0.800 V
Hint: The platinum (Pt) electrode only acts as a catalyst for the reaction,
but does not react with any of the chemical species.
 Recap: Standard Cell Potential
E°cell = E°cathode - E°anode
= E°right - E°left
o
EFe3
/Fe2
 0.771V o
E Ag 
/ Ag
 0.800 V

 𝐸𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 =0.800  V   −   0.771  V

 𝐸𝑜
𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 =0.029 V
 Exercise 1-5
• The cell diagram for an electrochemical cell
is written as
Pt(s) | Fe2+(aq), Fe3+(aq) || Ag+(aq)| Ag(s)
• Write the equations for the half-reactions
that occur at the electrodes. Balance the
overall cell reaction.
• What is the cell potential (E°cell)?
o
EFe3
/Fe2
 0.771V o
E Ag 
/ Ag
 0.800 V
Hint: The platinum (Pt) electrode only acts as a catalyst for the reaction,
but does not react with any of the chemical species.
 Exercise 1-6
• Anode: Z n (𝑠) → Z n
  2+¿
+2𝑒 ¿ −
(𝑎𝑞)
• Cathode:
− −
2Mn O2 (𝑠)+H 2 O(𝑙) +2𝑒 → Mn 2 O3(𝑠) +2O H
 
(𝑎𝑞)

• Can you write the overall reaction?