For each of the following redox reactions,

(i) write the oxidation half equation,

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(ii) write the reduction half equation, Form 4 Chemistry
Worksheet
(iii) write the overall reaction, and
Chapter 30 Writing Redox Equations (solution)
(iv) state ALL the observable change(s).
1. (a) sodium sulphite solution + acidified potassium dichromate solution
(i) SO32(aq) + H2O(l)  SO42(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e
(ii) Cr2O72(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e  2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
(iii) Cr2O72(aq) + 3SO32(aq) + 8H+(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 3SO42(aq) + 4H2O(l)
(iv) The solution changes from orange to green.

(b) aqueous chlorine + potassium iodide solution

(i) 2I–(aq)  I2(aq) + 2e–
(ii) Cl2(aq) + 2e–  2Cl–(aq)
(iii) Cl2(aq) + 2I(aq)  2Cl(aq) + I2(aq)
(iv) The solution changes from colourless (very pale green) to brown.

(c) acidified potassium permanganate solution + iron(II) sulphate solution

(i) Fe2+(aq)  Fe3+(aq) + e–
(ii) MnO4–(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e–  Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l)
(iii) 5Fe2+(aq) + MnO4(aq) + 8H+(aq)  5Fe3+(aq) + Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l)
(iv) The solution changes from purple to yellow.

(d) zinc + concentrated sulphuric acid

(i) Zn(s)  Zn2+(aq) + 2e–
(ii) H2SO4(l) + 2H+(aq) + 2e–  SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
OR 2H2SO4(l) + 2e–  SO42–(aq) + SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
(iii) Zn(s) + H2SO4(l) + 2H+(aq)  Zn2+(aq) + SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
OR Zn(s) + 2H2SO4(l)  ZnSO4(aq) + SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
(iv) Zinc dissolves in the acid to form a colourless solution. Colourless gas bubbles with a
choking smell evolve.

(e) iron(II) sulphate solution + concentrated nitric acid

(i) Fe2+(aq)  Fe3+(aq) + e–
(ii) NO3–(aq) + 2H+(aq) + e–  NO2(g) + H2O(l)
(iii) Fe2+(aq) + NO3–(aq) + 2H+(aq)  Fe3+(aq) + NO2(g) + H2O(l)
(In reality: 3Fe2+(aq) + NO3–(aq) + 4H+(aq)  3Fe3+(aq) + NO(g) + 2H2O(l))
(iv) The solution changes from green to yellow. A brown gas evolves.

(f) copper + dilute nitric acid

(i) Cu(s)  Cu2+(aq) + 2e–
(ii) NO3(aq) + 4H+(aq) + 3e–  NO(g) + 2H2O(l)
(iii) 3Cu(s) + 2NO3(aq) + 8H+(aq)  3Cu2+(aq) + 2NO(g) + 4H2O(l)
(iv) Copper dissolves to form a blue solution. Colourless gas bubbles evolve.