LAB SESSION 4.

OXIDATION-REDUCTION Name and surname: Angels Garrido and Lucía Guerra

1. SPONTANEOUS AND NON-SPONTANEOUS REACTIONS

A) System Cu2+/Fe
What changes are observed? Iron nail becomes red

Is the reaction spontaneous? Yes

Which specie is being oxidized (reducing agent)? Fe
Which specie is being reduced (oxidizing agent)?
Cu2+
Oxidation half-reaction 𝐹𝑒 (𝑠) → 𝐹𝑒2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é
Reduction half-reaction 𝐶𝑢2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é → 𝐶𝑢(𝑠)
E°Cu 2+/Cu 0.340 V
E°Fe 2+/Fe -0.440 V
E°cell (V) = E°cathode- E°anode 0.340 – (−0.440) = 0.780 V
+
B) System Ag /Cu
What changes are observed? Silver metal is covering Cu and the liquid has become
blue
Is the reaction spontaneous? Yes
Which specie is being oxidized? 𝐶𝑢0
Which specie is being reduced? 𝐴𝑔+
Oxidation half-reaction 𝐶𝑢(𝑠) → 𝐶𝑢2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é
Reduction half-reaction 𝐴𝑔+(𝑎𝑞) + 1é → 𝐴𝑔(𝑠)
E° Ag +/Ag 0.800 V
E°Cu 2+/Cu 0.340 V
E°cell (V) = E°cathode- E°anode 0.800 – 0.340 = 0.460 V
2+
C) System Zn /Cu
What changes are observed? Any change is observed

Is the reaction spontaneous? No

Which specie is being oxidized? If oxidation: Cu (s)
Which specie is being reduced? If reduction: Zn2+
Oxidation half-reaction If oxidation: 𝐶𝑢(𝑠) → 𝐶𝑢2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é
Reduction half-reaction If reduction: 𝑍𝑛2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é → 𝑍𝑛(𝑠)
E° Zn 2+/Zn -0.763 V
E°Cu 2+/Cu 0.340 V
E°cell (V) = E°cathode- E°anode
−0.763 − 0.340 < 0 🡪 No reaction
D) System Cu2+/Zn
What changes are observed? Zinc becomes red.

Is the reaction spontaneous? Yes

Which specie is being oxidized? Zn
Which specie is being reduced?
Cu2+
Oxidation half-reaction 𝑍𝑛(𝑠) → 𝑍𝑛2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é
Reduction half-reaction 𝐶𝑢2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é → 𝐶𝑢(𝑠)
E°Cu 2+/Cu 0.340 V
E° Zn 2+/Zn -0.763 V
E°cell (V) = E°cathode- E°anode 0.340 − (−0.763) = 1.103 V
 2. DANIELL CELL

Anode 𝑍𝑛(𝑠) → 𝑍𝑛2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é

Cathode 𝐶𝑢2+(𝑎𝑞) + 2é → 𝐶𝑢(𝑠)
At which electrode does oxidation occur? Anode
At which electrode does reduction occur? Cathode
Cell voltage 1.092 V
Theoretical value of E°cell 0.340 − (−0.763) = 1.103 V

3. REDOX REACCTIONS
A. POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE (KMnO4) / SODIUM SULFITE (Na2SO3)
A.1. Acid medium
Annotate all the observations Initial color: Colorless
Final color: Colorless
2− 2−
𝑆𝑂3 is oxidized to 𝑆𝑂
4
− 2+
𝑀𝑛𝑂4 is reduced to 𝑀𝑛
Oxidation half-reaction 𝑆𝑂2−
3
+ 𝐻2𝑂 → 𝑆𝑂2−4 + 2é + 2𝐻+

Reduction half-reaction 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− + 5é + 8𝐻+ → 𝑀𝑛2+ + 4𝐻2𝑂

−
Ionic equation 2𝑀𝑛𝑂
4
+ 5𝑆𝑂32− + 6𝐻+ → 2𝑀𝑛2+ + 3𝐻2𝑂 + 5𝑆𝑂2−4

A.2. Neutral medium

Annotate all the observations Initial color: Colorless
Final color: Blackish Brown
2− 2−
𝑆𝑂3 is oxidized to 𝑆𝑂
4
−
𝑀𝑛𝑂4 is reduced to 𝑀𝑛𝑂
2
Oxidation half-reaction 𝑆𝑂2−
3
+ 𝐻2𝑂 → 𝑆𝑂2−4 + 2é + 2𝐻+
Reduction half-reaction 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− + 3é + 4𝐻+ → 𝑀𝑛𝑂2 + 2𝐻2𝑂
−
Ionic equation 2𝑀𝑛𝑂
4
+ 3𝑆𝑂32− + 2𝐻+ → 2𝑀𝑛𝑂2 + 3𝑆𝑂2−
4
+ 𝐻2𝑂

A.3. Basic medium

Annotate all the observations Initial color: Colorless
Final color: Intense green immediately. It changes to brownish later.
2− 2−
𝑆𝑂3 is oxidized to 𝑆𝑂
4
− 2−
𝑀𝑛𝑂4 is reduced to 𝑀𝑛𝑂4
Oxidation half-reaction 𝑆𝑂2−
3
+ 2𝑂𝐻− → 𝑆𝑂2−4 + 𝐻2𝑂 + 2é
Reduction half-reaction 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− + 1é → 𝑀𝑛𝑂42−
−
Ionic equation 2𝑀𝑛𝑂
4
+ 𝑆𝑂3 2− + 2𝑂𝐻− → 2𝑀𝑛𝑂2−
4
+ 𝑆𝑂2−4 + 𝐻2𝑂

B. POTASSIUM DICHROMATE (K2Cr2O7) /WATER PEROXYDE (H2O2)

Annotate all the observations Initial color: Blue

Final color: Green
−
𝐻2𝑂 2is oxidized to 𝑂
2
2− 3+
𝐶𝑟207 is reduced to 2𝐶𝑟
Oxidation half-reaction 𝐶𝑟2𝑂7 2− + 6é + 14𝐻+ → 2𝐶𝑟3+ + 3𝑂2 + 7𝐻2𝑂

Reduction half-reaction 𝐻2𝑂2 → 𝑂2 + 2é + 2𝐻+

Ionic equation 𝐶𝑟2𝑂7 2− + 3𝐻2𝑂2 + 8𝐻+ → 2𝐶𝑟3+ + 3𝑂2 + 7𝐻2𝑂