Topic 3: Redox

Redox Reaction
Redox reaction are reactions where both reduction and oxidation reactions take place at
the same time.
 It is a chemical reaction in which in which electrons are transferred form one reactant
to another
 Oxidation is an increase in oxidation state and where an element in a substance loses
electrons
 Reduction is a decrease in oxidation state and where an element in a substance gains
electrons
LEO loves GERmany

Examples:

Rusting of iron: 
    4Fe (s) + 3O2 (g) + xH2O (l)  → 2Fe2O3.xH2O (s)
Burning of butane gas for fuel: 
    2C4H10 (g) + 13O2 (g) → 8CO2 (g) + 10H2O (g)
Copper extraction from its ore: 
    2CuO (s) + C (s) →   2Cu (s) + CO2 (g)
 Oxidation number
It is the charge an atom in the substance would have when it exists as ions in the compound or if electrons were transferred completely.
It can also be used to identify the reducing or oxidizing agent without involving electrons.
It is also known as Oxidation state.

The rules of oxidation states

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5

Elements The oxidation state of some The oxidation state of a Oxidation numbers in any The oxidation states of the
have an elements in their monoatomic ion is the chemical species must sum elements in a compound add
oxidation compounds is fixed charge on the ion to the overall charge on the up to 0.
state of zero Examples: Examples: species.
Oxidation Ion Charge Oxidation Examples:
Examples: state For Molecules, the oxidation KClO3
state
Cl2, O2, H2, Hydrogen +1 number must sum to 0 for Oxidation state of potassium
Fe, Cu (except in any molecules. E.g. Sum of = +1
Na+ +1 +1
hydrides) have NH3 is 0. Oxidation state of chlorine =
H at the end. N3- -3 -3 +5
Oxygen (except -2 For Monoatomic ion, the Oxidation state of Oxygen = -
Mg2+ +2 +2
in peroxides) number of a monoatomic 2
have OH at the S2- -2 -2 ion is equal to the charge of Hence, +1 + (+5) +3(-2) = 0
end. the ion. E.g. oxidation
Fluorine -1 number of Br- is -1
All group I +1
elements For polyatomic ion, the
All Group II +2 oxidation number must sum
elements to the charge of the ion. E.g.
Sum of the oxidation
Group 7 (other Usually -1,
number of CO32- is -2
than fluorine) not fixed
How to balance Redox equations

E.g. Cr (s) + Ni2+ (aq) → Cr3+ (aq) + Ni (s)

Step 1: Break up the equation into half equations

 Cr (s) → Cr3+ (aq) + 3e‒
 Ni2+ (aq) + 2e‒ → Ni (s)

Step 2: Balance the mass and charge

Step 3: Balance e-
 (Cr (s) → Cr3+ (aq) + 3e‒) x2
 (Ni2+ (aq) + 2e‒ → Ni (s) ) x3

Step 3: Merge the half equations and cancel out common species (not just e-)
 2Cr (s) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 6e‒
 3Ni2+ (aq) + 6e‒ → 3Ni (s)

 2Cr (s) + 3Ni2+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 3Ni (s)

How to balance redox equations in acidic solutions

Example

Unbalanced: Fe2+ (aq) + Cr2O72‒ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq) + Cr3+ (aq)

 Step 1: Write half-equations

Oxidation half-reaction: Fe2+ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq)

Reduction half-reaction: Cr2O72‒ (aq) → Cr3+ (aq)

 Step 2: In each half reaction, balance all elements except O & H.

Oxidation half-reaction: Fe2+ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq)

Reduction half-reaction: Cr2O72‒ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq)

 Step 3: Balance O by adding H2O.

Reduction half-reaction: Cr2O72‒ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l) (adding H2O because it is aq
soln)

 Step 4: Balance H by adding H+.

Reduction half-reaction: Cr2O72‒ (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l) (add H+ because it is
an acidic aq soln)

Note: The mass is balanced for both equations BUT not the charge.

 Step 5: Balance charges by adding e‒

Oxidation half-reaction: Fe2+ (aq) → Fe3+ (aq) + e-
Reduction half-reaction: 6e- + Cr2O72‒ (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

Overall charge: +12 Overall charge: +6

 Step 6: Multiply both half-equations by an integer to balance e‒

Oxidation half-reaction: 6Fe2+ (aq) → 6Fe3+ (aq) + 6e-

Reduction half-reaction: 6e- + Cr2O72‒ (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

 Step 7: Combine half-equations & cancel out common species appearing on both sides
of the net reaction (not just e-)

Overall redox reaction:

6Fe2+ (aq) + Cr2O72‒ (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l) + 6Fe3+ (aq)
How to balance redox reactions in basic solutions

MnO4- +I-  MnO2 + I2

Step 1:Separate the unbalanced reaction into half-reactions

Oxidation : I-  I2
Reduction: MnO4-  MnO2

Step 2: Balance each half-reaction for mass, excluding O and H

2I-  I2
MnO4-  MnO2

Step 3: Balance both half-reactions for O by adding H2O

2I-  I2
MnO4-  MnO2 + 2H2O

Step 4: Balance both half-reactions for H by adding H+

2I-  I2
4H+ + MnO4-  MnO2 + 2H2O

Step 5: Balance the total charge of both half-reactions by adding electrons

2I-  I2 + 2e-
3e- + 4H+ + MnO4-  MnO2 + 2H2O

Step 6: Multiply the half reactions to make the numbers of electrons the same in both.
3 (2I-  I2 + 2e-)
2 (3e- + 4H+ + MnO4-  MnO2 + 2H2O)

Step 7: Add the half reactions back together, cancelling reactions and combine the half-
reactions. (not just e-)
6I-  3I2 + 6e-
6e- + 8H+ + 2MnO4-  2MnO2 + 4H2O
8H+ + 2MnO4- + 6I-  2MnO2 + 3I2 + 4H2O

Step 8: For each H+ ion in the final equation, add one OH- ion to each side of the equation,
combining the H+ and OH- ions to produce H2O.

(+8OH-) 8H+ + 2MnO4- + 6I-  2MnO2 + 3I2 + 4H2O (+8OH-)

8H2O + 2MnO4- + 6I-  2MnO2 + 3I2 + 4H2O + 8OH-

Step 9: Carry out any cancellations made necessary by the additional H 2O molecules.
4H2O + 2MnO4- + 6I-  2MnO2 + 3I2 + 8OH-