OXIDATION – REDUCTION REACTION

Oxidation is defined as:

1. An increase in oxidation number
2. A loss of electrons
3. A gain of oxygen
4. A loss of hydrogen

Reduction is defined as:

1) A decrease in oxidation number
2) A gain of electrons
3) A loss of oxygen
4) A gain of hydrogen

Chemical reactions can be divided into two categories:

1) Those in which there is no change in valence or oxidation number
2) Those in which some elements undergo a change in oxidation number

For each of these categories, equations could be written in a molecular or ionic form.
1) Molecular Equation – where the complete formulas for all reactants and products are
written.

Ex: AgNO3 + NaCl AgCl + NaNO3

BaCl2 + H2SO4 BaSO4 + 2 HCl

2) Ionic Equation – where only those species (ions or molecules ) that participate in the
reactions are shown.

AgNO3 + Cl - AgCl + NO3 -

BaCl2 + SO4 -2 BaSO4 + 2 Cl -

Methods of Balancing Redox Reactions:

1) Oxidation Number Method / Molecular Method
2) Half-reaction Method / Ion-electron Method

Example: Balance the following equations by the Redox Method. Identify the Oxidizing
Agent and the Reducing Agent.

Oxidizing agent – is the reactant which is being reduced (its oxidation number decreases)
and causes the oxidation of the other reactant
Reducing agent – is the reactant which is being oxidized (its oxidation. no. increases) and
causes the reduction of the other reactant

The Oxidation-Reduction Reaction is commonly known as RedOx. It is a chemical process

in which the oxidation number of an element is changed. It is a reaction in which it
involves the loss and gain of electrons by an atom or ion. They are considered as electron-
transfer reactions.

Oxidation – occurs whenever the oxidation number of an element increases as a result of

losing the electrons

Reduction – occurs whenever the oxidation number of an element decreases as a result

of gaining electrons.

Oxidation Number / Oxidation State – refers to the charge of a atom would have in a
molecule or in an ionic compound if electrons were transferred completely.
Rules in Assigning Oxidation Number:

1. Elements in the free or uncombined state, have oxidation number equal to zero (0).
Example: O2 ; Br2; N2 ; Na ; P4; S8 = 0

2. Ions composed of only one atom, their oxidation number is equal to the charge of the ion.
Example: Li +1 = 1; O-2 = -2 ; H+1 = 1

3. Oxygen in most compounds has an oxidation number of -2 ; except in peroxides that it is -1 ;

and in superoxides that it is -1/2 .
Example: a) H2O = H+1 ; O -2 Fe2O3 = Fe+3 ; O -2
b) H2O2 = H+1 ; O -1
c) KO2 = K +1 ; O -1/2

4. Hydrogen in most compounds, has the oxidation number of 1. Except when H is bonded to metals
in binary compounds where its oxidation number is -1.
Example: a) HCl = H+1 ; Cl -1 ; HNO3 = H+1
b) NaH = Na+1 ; H -1 ; CaH2 = H-1

5. Fluorine in all compounds has an oxidation number of -1. Other halogens like Cl, Br, and I have
negative oxidation number as halide ions.
Example: a) NaF = Na+1 ; F -1 ; CaBr2 = Ca+2 ; Br -1 ; HCl = H +1 ; Cl -1
+2
b) ClO = Cl ; O -2 +6
; ClO3 = Cl ; O -2
 6. In neutral molecule, the sum of the oxidation number for all the atoms is equal to zero
(0).
In polyatomic ion, the sum of oxidation numbers for all the atoms is equal to the charge
of the ion.

Exercise:
I Determine the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds. Write
your solution below:

1) Na2SO4 2) CaCO3 3) Al2(PO4)3 4) K2Cr2O7

II Determine the following (a,b,c,d) and balance the chemical reactions by Redox. Write
your solution below or at the back.
a) Which reactant undergoes oxidation
b) Which reactant undergoes reduction
c) What is the oxidizing agent in the reaction?
d) What is the reducing agent?

1. Mg + O2 MgO

2. C + HNO3 NO2 + CO2 + H2O

3. NH3 + O2 NO + H 2O

4. FeO3 + CO Fe + CO2