Wednesday, 01 December 2021

AQA – Oxidation, Reduction

and Redox Reactions

What the spec says
Oxidation is the process of
electron loss and oxidising
agents are electron acceptors.
Reduction is the process of
electron gain and reducing
agents are electron donors.
The rules for assigning
oxidation states.
Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Students should be able to:
• work out the oxidation state of an
element in a compound or ion from the
formula
• write half-equations identifying the
oxidation and reduction processes in
redox reactions
• combine half-equations to give an
overall redox equation.
 Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Oxidation
Reduction and Oxidation
Is
Loss (of electrons) Electrons are transferred when reduction and oxidation occurs.
We can use the acronym OIL RIG to help understand what is happening
Reduction
Is
Gain (of electrons) This reaction when calcium is completely
burnt in oxygen involves reduction and
oxidation. We call this a REDOX reaction. Ca + ½O2  CaO
Reducing agents lose
electrons and are
oxidised themselves.
In this reaction calcium is being OXIDISED
as it is losing electrons. Ca  Ca2+ + 2e-
Oxidising agents gain
electrons and are
In this reaction oxygen is being REDUCED
as it is gaining electrons. ½O2 + 2e-  O2-
reduced themselves.
 Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Oxidation Numbers
Each element can be assigned an oxidation number (or oxidation state). The number depends on a set of rules listed below.

Element Oxidation state in compounds Example

1. Uncombined Elements N/A – Uncombined elements always 0 Cl2, Fe, O2
2. Ions Ox. Number is same as charge on ion Cl- = -1 Ca2+ = +2
3. Group 1 Always +1 KCl
4. Group 2 Always +2 CaO
5. Aluminium Always +3 Al2O3
6. Hydrogen +1 (except in hydrides where it is -1) HF (Hydride example – NaH)
7. Chlorine -1 (except if in a compound with F and O - it KCl (Cl has a value of +3 in ClF3)
would have a positive value)
8. Fluorine Always -1 KF
9. Oxygen -2 (except it is -1 in peroxides and +2 in OF2) Li2O (O has the value -1 in H2O2)
 Work out the oxidation Wednesday, 01 December 2021
state of the elements
in
Working out Oxidation States
NH3 (Rule 6) H = +1×3 = +3 SO N = -3
Element
1. Uncombined
Elements
Oxidation state in compounds
N/A – Uncombined elements
always 0

H2S (Rule 6) H = +1×2 = +2 SO S = -2

All the oxidation states
2. Ions Ox. Number is same as charge
on ion
3. Group 1 Always +1
O2 (Rule 1) O = 0 must add to overall
charge of molecule 4. Group 2
5. Aluminium
Always +2
Always +3
(Rule 6&9) H = (+1×2) = +2 SO
H2O2 O= (-2/2) = -1 6. Hydrogen +1 (except in hydrides where it
is -1)
7. Chlorine -1 (except if in a compound
(Rule 6&9) H = (+1×2) = +2 O=
H2SO4 (-2×4) = -8 SO S = +6 8. Fluorine
with F and O - it would have a
positive value)
Always -1

SO4 2- (Rule 6&9) O = (-2×4) = -8 SO S = +6 9. Oxygen -2 (except it is -1 in peroxides

and +2 in OF2)
 Work out the oxidation Wednesday, 01 December 2021
state of the elements
in
Working out Oxidation States
Transition metals can have variable oxidation states. Element Oxidation state in compounds
1. Uncombined N/A – Uncombined elements
Elements always 0
(Rule 9) O = (-2×3) = -6 SO Fe =
Fe2O3 +6/2 = +3
2. Ions Ox. Number is same as charge
on ion
We call this Iron(III)Oxide (The III represents +3 oxidation state) 3. Group 1 Always +1

FeO
4. Group 2 Always +2
(Rule 9) O = -2 SO Fe = +2 5. Aluminium Always +3
We call this Iron(II)Oxide (The II represents +2 oxidation state) 6. Hydrogen +1 (except in hydrides where it
is -1)
2+ VO2 +
VO 7. Chlorine -1 (except if in a compound
with F and O - it would have a
positive value)
(Rule 9) O = -2 SO V = +4 (Rule 9) O = (-2×2) = -4
8. Fluorine Always -1
SO V = +5
9. Oxygen -2 (except it is -1 in peroxides
We call this Vanadium(IV)Oxide We call this Vanadium(V)Oxide and +2 in OF2)
 Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Oxidation or Reduction?
Reduction Oxidation
is a is an

2Na + Cl2  2NaCl

decrease increase
in in
oxidation oxidation
number number
0 0 +1 -1
Na is being
oxidised as there is
an increase in Cl is being reduced
oxidation number as there is an
from 0 to +1 decrease in
oxidation number
from 0 to -1
Na is the Reducing Agent
Cl2 is the Oxidising Agent
*Steps 3 and 4 may not need to be done if
there are no oxygens or hydrogens
Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Balancing Half Equations

Half equations show reduction and oxidation stages in 2 equations. ALL half equations must have electrons in.

THE RULES Write a half equation showing the conversion of Fe2+ to Fe3+

Fe2+  Fe3+
1. Write down the species before
and after a reaction
2. Balance any atoms apart from
oxygen and hydrogen (these will be
dealt with later)
Fe2+  Fe3+ (Already Balanced)
*3. Balance any oxygens with H2O Fe2+  Fe3+ (No Oxygens)
*4. Balance any hydrogens with H+
ions Fe2+  Fe3+ (No Hydrogen)
5. Balance charges with electrons (e-)
Fe  Fe + e
2+ 3+ - This shows
OXIDATION
*Steps 3 and 4 may not need to be done if
there are no oxygens or hydrogens
Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Balancing Half Equations

Half equations show reduction and oxidation stages in 2 equations. ALL half equations must have electrons in.

THE RULES Write a half equation showing the conversion of MnO4- to Mn2+

1. Write down the species before

and after a reaction MnO4-  Mn2+
2. Balance any atoms apart from
oxygen and hydrogen (these will be
dealt with later)
MnO4-  Mn2+ (Already Balanced)
*3. Balance any oxygens with H2O MnO4-  Mn2+ + 4H2O This shows
REDUCTION
*4. Balance any hydrogens with H+
ions MnO4- + 8H+  Mn2+ + 4H2O
5. Balance charges with electrons (e-) MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e-  Mn2+ + 4H2O
 Wednesday, 01 December 2021

Combining Half Equations

2 half equations can be combined to make a full ionic equation. Just make sure your electrons balance!

This shows
OXIDATION 
Fe2+ + Fe3+ e- The electrons don’t balance so
we need to multiply the top
equation by 5
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e-  Mn2+ + 4H2O
This shows
REDUCTION

5Fe2+  5Fe3+ + 5e-

Cancel the electrons and
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+  Mn2+ + 5Fe3+ + 4H2O combine the 2 equations.

IMPORTANT!
You should have NO electrons Your full ionic equation shows
in the final ionic equation both reduction and oxidation
and so is a REDOX reaction