Electrochemistry

1-1: Introduction, Oxidation Numbers

ES 10: Chemistry for Engineers

David A. Agbayani

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

 Electrochemistry
• the branch of chemistry that deals with the
interconversion of electrical energy and
chemical energy

• redox reactions (oxidation-reduction)

 spontaneous reaction: energy is released
 nonspontaneous reaction: energy is used
 Electrochemistry
• Review: spontaneous vs non-spontaneous

• Guide question: Is it more natural for you to

stand on two feet or on one foot only?

• Replace “natural” with “spontaneous”

– The more “natural”, the more spontaneous.
 Electrochemistry
Example of a redox reaction:
Zinc rod Zinc sulfate solution

Copper sulfate solution Solid copper

 Electrochemistry
Another example of a redox reaction:
 Oxidation Number
• also known as oxidation state

• number of charges the atom would have in a

molecule if electrons were transferred
completely
 Rules
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na

0 0 0

H2 O2 Na
 Rules
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+

-2 +1 0
O 2-
Na +
Na arge !
No ch
 Rules
3. Oxygen: -2 in most compounds, -1 in
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxide ion
(O22-)

-2 -1 -1
H2O H2O2 O2 2-
 Rules
4. Hydrogen: +1 in most compounds, -1 when

bonded to metals in binary compounds

(LiH,
NaH)
+1 -2 +1 -1 -1
H2O H2O2 NaH
 Rules (Recap Part 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)
 Rules
5. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine: -1
when occurring as halide ions

-1 -1 -1
Fl -
Cl -
Br -
 Rules
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
ch arge !
verall
no o
ul e has
Molec
+1 -1
H2O2
2 × (+1) + 2 × (-1) = 0
 Rules
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.
ch arg e!
overall
Molec
ul eha s +1 -2
H3O +

3 × (+1) + 1 × (-2) = +1
 Rules (Recap Part 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.
 Exercises!
• Assign oxidation numbers to all the
elements in the following compounds:

1. Na2O
2. HNO2
3. Cr2O72-