STEPS STEPS

RULES FOR ARRANGING OXIDATION NUMBERS BY STRUCTURE

OXIDATION NUMBER (ON)
1 Write the correct formula of the reaction 1 Seperate equation into two half reaction.

a) Oxidation Number of single element Identify atoms undergoing change in 2 Balance atoms other than O and H
2
is always O. b) Chromium (VI) peroxide Oxidation number
b) Oxidation Number of ions only one a) Earo's acidb(H2SO5) For reaction occuring in acidic medium,
O-1 O
-1
atom, ON is equal to charge on ion O-2 Calculate i9ncrease or decrease in 3 Add H2O to balance O atoms and H+ to
+6
c) Oxidation Number of oxygen in most +1 -2 -1 -1 +1 Cr 3 Oxidation number per atom amd for entire balance H atoms.
HO - S - O - OH ion or molecule. If unequal, multiply by
compound is -2 O -2 -1
d) Oxidation Number of hydrogen is +1, O O suitable number to make equal. Balance charges by adding e- to one
O -2
4
except when it is bonded to metals in side of the half reaction.
binary compounds. Add H+/OH- ion to make total ionic charges
4 Add two half reactions and cancel the
e) Halogens have an oxidation number of of reactants and product equal 5
-1, when they occur as halide ions in their e- on each side.
c) Earo's acidb(H2SO5)
compounds. -2 -2 -2 5 Equalize H+ on two sides by adding water.
f) Algebric sum of oxidation number all the O O O OXIDATION NUMBER 6 Scale the equation has same type and no.
atoms in a compounds must be zero
-2 +6 +4 +6 -2 of atoms and same charges on both sides
O = Br - Br - Br = O
-2 of the equation.
-2
O -2 O It indicates the number
O of electron gained or lost OXIDATION
by a particular atom. NUMBER METHOD
HALF REACTION
1 Oxidation is loss of electrons. Modern METHOD

They are considered as reducing

1st method
2
agents.
OXIDATION 2nd Method

Classical
3 Lower oxidation number.
BALANCING REDOX
Addition of oxygen or
REACTION ELECTRO-CHEMICAL SERIES
removal of hydrogen
from a substance.
REDOX IN DAILY LIFE C + O 2 
→ CO 2 + Heat

Photosynthesis
Electron of metals
OXIDATION AND
REDUCTION REDOX A series of electrodes on half cells arranged in
order of their increasing standard oxidation
potentials or in the decreasing order of their
REDUCTION

REACTION
Classical

Combination process standard reduction potential.

Electrochemical cells
Removal of oxygen or
addition of hydrogen
from a substance.
1 Reduction is gain of electrons. H 2 + S → H2 S
APPLICATION
They are considered as oxidising TYPES OF
2
agents.
REDOX REACTIONS GALVENIC CELL
M odern + +
3 Increases Oxidation Number. + +
Two reactants combine to
COMBINATION
form single products
REACTION
H 2 (g) + O 2 (g) 
→ H 2 O(l)
Salt
CALCULATION OF N- FACTOR
DECOMPOSITION Breakdown of a compound Bridge
REACTION into two or more compounds
∆
CaCO 3 (s) → CaO(s) + CO 2 (g)
n-factor of oxidising agent/reducing agent
= Change in oxidation number per molecule An ion/atom in a compound, is
DISPLACEMENT replaced by an ion/atom of
Change = 5 × 1 REACTION another elements.
+7 +7 (nf = 5)
CuSO 4 (aq) + Zn(s) 
→ ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu
MnO44- Mn2+

Change = 1 × 2 DISPROPORTIONATION An element in one oxidation stateis Oxidation Reduction

+3 +4 (nf = 2) Study of electrode simultaneously oxidised and reduced half half
C2O42- CO2 processes and cells 2H 2 O 2 (l) 
→ 2H 2 O(l) + O 2 (g) (Anode) (Cathode)