CHM131

REDOX REACTION
NORTHAQIFAH HASNA BINTI MOHAMED KHIR
north7340@uitm.edu.my
 CHAPTER 4 : OXIDATION & REDUCTION REACTION
4.1 Definition of Oxidation and Reduction based on:
4.1.1 Transfer of oxygen
4.1.2 Transfer of electrons
4.1.3 Change in oxidation number
4.2 Oxidation Number of Elements in Compounds
4.3 Reducing and Oxidizing Agent
4.4 Balancing Redox Equations in Acidic Medium
WHY REDOX?

Combustion And Electrochemistry

Explosions And Batteries

Oxidation:
Oxidized metal
Spoiling &
Surface
Aging.

3
 4.1 - DEFINITION OF OXIDATION AND REDUCTION
DEFINITION
Reactions involving both reduction & oxidation.

Can be defined based on:

1. Transfer of oxygen
2. Transfer of hydrogen
3. Transfer of electron(s)
4. Changes in oxidation number

https://youtu.be/5rtJdjas-mY
 4.1.1 - OXYGEN TRANSFER

OXIDATION REDUCTION
Gain of oxygen Loss of oxygen

CO →CO2 Fe2O3 →Fe

O atom : 1 → 2 O atom : 3 → 0
 4.1.2 - ELECTRON TRANSFER

OXIDATION REDUCTION
Loss of electron(s) Gain of electron(s)

Mg donate electrons → O2 O2 accept electrons from Mg

4.1.3 – CHANGES IN OXIDATION NUMBER (ON)

OXIDATION REDUCTION
ON increases ON decreases

ON for Na: 0 → +1 ON for Br: 0 → -1

 HYDROGEN TRANSFER
OXIDATION REDUCTION
Loss of hydrogen(s) Gain of hydrogen(s)

2NH3 → N2 3Br2 → 6HBr

H atom : 6 → 0 H atom : 0 → 6
4.2 - OXIDATION NUMBER OF ELEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS
Each atom in a molecule (or ionic compound) is assigned an oxidation number
or oxidation states
OXIDATION NUMBER
the number of charges the atom would have in a molecule(ionic compound)
if electrons were transferred completely.

https://youtu.be/-a2ckxhfDjQ
RULES TO DETERMINE OXIDATION NUMBER
 DETERMINATION OF OXIDATION NUMBER

EXAMPLE
Find the oxidation number of C in Na2CO3

SOLUTION
Na2CO3 Na2CO3 = 0
0 = 2Na + 1C + 3O
= 2(+1) + 1C + 3(-2)
+1 -2 = 1C - 4
C = 0 + 4 = +4
 DETERMINATION OF OXIDATION NUMBER

EXAMPLE
Find the oxidation number of Mn in MnO4-

SOLUTION
- MnO4- = -1
MnO4 ON = -1
-1 = 1Mn + 4O
= 1Mn + 4(-2)
= 1Mn – 8
-2
Mn = -1 + 8 = +7
 DETERMINATION OF OXIDATION NUMBER

PRACTICE
1. Identify the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in HCO3−.
2. Determine the oxidation number for the underlined element
below:
NaF
2-
SF6
Na2Cr2O7
https://youtu.be/zpCy7KwqDO8
 4.3 - REDUCING & OXIDIZING AGENT
REDUCING AGENT
The species which is being oxidized itself (electron donor)

OXIDIZING AGENT
The species which is being reduced (electron acceptor)

https://youtu.be/zpCy7KwqDO8
DETERMINATION OF REDUCING/OXIDIZING AGENT

TIPS / STEPS
1. Identify the substance oxidized and reduced.
Oxidized substance = Reducing agent
Reduced substance = Oxidizing agent
OXIDATION REDUCTION
REDUCING AGENT OXIDIZING AGENT
DETERMINATION OF REDUCING/OXIDIZING AGENT
EXAMPLE
Identify the oxidizing and reducing agent for the following reaction.

Reducing Agent : Al SOLUTION

ON : 0 → +3
O atom : 0 → 12

ON : +1 → 0
Oxidizing Agent : H2SO4 O atom : 12 → 0
 DETERMINATION OF REDUCING/OXIDIZING AGENT
EXAMPLE
-
Redox reaction occurs when gold ion, Au3+ reacts
with iodide ion, I in
acidic solution. Predict the oxidizing and reducing agent.

SOLUTION
ON : +3 → 0 Oxidizing Agent : Au3+

ON : -1 → 0 Reducing Agent : I-
 DETERMINATION OF REDUCING/OXIDIZING AGENT
EXAMPLE
Identify the oxidizing and reducing agent for the redox reaction.

SOLUTION
Reducing Agent : KCl
ON : -1 → 0

ON : +4 → +2

Oxidizing Agent : MnO2

DETERMINATION OF REDUCING/OXIDIZING AGENT

PRACTICE
Identify the oxidizing and reducing agent for the following:
 4.4 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM
`

§ Some equations for oxidation-reduction reactions can be easily balanced by

inspection
§ However, it is often easier to balance the oxidation-reduction reactions by the
half-reaction method
§ This method is based on the principle that all the electrons ‘lost’ in an
oxidation half-reaction must be ‘gained’ in a reduction half-reaction

https://youtu.be/IZ1tKxsqV74
HALF REACTION
Ionic equations to describe either gaining or losing electrons during redox reactions

-
Oxidation Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e
-
Reduction Cu2+ (aq) + 2e → Cu (s)
Overall (Full) Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

Number of electrons transferred for both oxidation & reduction reactions must be in
same value.
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM
Separate the reaction into half-reactions.
Determine the ON for species undergoing redox
01

Balance atoms and charges in each

02 half-reaction

Multiply each half-reaction by an integer 03

Add the half-reactions together,
04 canceling substances that appear on
both sides

Check that atoms and charges balance 05

 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM
EXAMPLE Balance the redox reaction in acidic medium

SOLUTION
01 Determine ON Half-reactions

ON : +6 → +3 REDUCTION

ON : -1 → 0 OXIDATION
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM

02 Balance atoms and charges in each half-reaction

Oxidation 2I- (aq) → I2 (aq) + 2e-

Reduction Cr2O72- (aq) + 14H+ + 6e-→ 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM
03 Multiply each half-reaction by an integer
- -
Oxidation (2I → I2 (aq) + 2e ) × 3
- -
6I → 3I2 (aq) + 6e
-
Reduction Cr2O72- (aq) + 14H+ + 6e → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O

04 Add the half-reactions together & canceling substances that appear

on both sides
- -
Oxidation 6I (aq) → 3I2 (aq) + 6e
Reduction Cr2O72- (aq) + 14H+ + 6e-→ 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O
Overall (Full) Cr2O72- (aq) + 14H+ + 6I-(aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 3I2 (aq) + 7H2O
BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM

05 Check that atoms and charges balance

-
Cr2O7 (aq) +
2- 14H+ + 6I (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 3I2 (aq) + 7H2O

https://youtu.be/pESvgnP64ME
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN ACIDIC MEDIUM

PRACTICE
Give the complete balanced chemical equation for the following redox reaction in
acidic medium.
1. S2O82–(aq) + NO(g) → SO42–(aq) + NO3–(aq)
2. MnO4–(aq) + Br–(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + Br2(l)
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

§ Similar steps with acidic medium.

§ Only one (1) additional step is needed to balance redox reaction in basic solution:
Step Basic:
1. Add one OH- ion to both sides of the equation for every H+ present
2. The OH- ions on one side are combined with H+ to form H2O
3. OH- ions appear on the other side of equation
4. Excess H2O are canceled.
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM
EXAMPLE Balance the redox reaction in basic medium

SOLUTION
01 Determine ON Half-reactions

ON : +7 → +4 REDUCTION

ON : +3 → +4 OXIDATION
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

02 Balance atoms and charges in each half-reaction

Oxidation C2O42- (aq) + 2H2O → 2CO32- (aq) + 4H+ + 2e-

- -
Reduction MnO4 (aq) + 4H+ + 3e → MnO2 (aq) + 2H2O
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

03 Multiply each half-reaction by an integer

-
Oxidation (C2O42-(aq) + 2H2O → 2CO32- (aq)
+ 4H+
+ 2e ) × 3
-
3C2O4 (aq) + 6H2O → 6CO3 (aq) + 12H + 6e
2- 2- +

Reduction ( MnO4- (aq) + 4H+ + 3e- → MnO2 (aq) + 2H2O ) × 2

2MnO4- (aq) + 8H+ + 6e- → 2MnO2 (aq) + 4H2O
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

04 Add the half-reactions together & canceling substances that appear

on both sides
-
Oxidation 3C2O4 (aq) + 6H2O → 6CO3 (aq) + 12H + 6e
2- 2- +
- -
Reduction 2MnO4 (aq) + 8H + 6e → 2MnO2 (aq) + 4H2O
+
-
Overall 3C2O42- (aq) + 2H2O + 2MnO4 (aq) → 6CO32- (aq) + 4H+ + 2MnO2 (aq)

-
Follow step 4 basic : add OH
 04 Step 4 BASIC

Add OH- on both sides

-
3C2O42- (aq) + 2H2O + 2MnO4 (aq) + 4OH- → 6CO32- (aq) + 4H+ + 2MnO2 (aq) + 4OH-

Add 4OH- on both sides (LEFT) produce 4H2O (RIGHT)

-
3C2O42- (aq) + 2H2O + 2MnO4 (aq) + 4OH- → 6CO32- (aq) + 2MnO2 (aq) + 4H2O

Cancelling H2O
-
3C2O42- (aq) + 2MnO4 (aq) + 4OH- → 6CO32- (aq) + 2MnO2 (aq) + 2H2O
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

05 Check that atoms and charges balance

-
3C2O4 (aq) + 2MnO4 (aq) + 4OH- → 6CO32- (aq) + 2MnO2 (aq) + 2H2O
2-

https://youtu.be/v5sDNmYCaqo
 BALANCING REDOX REACTION IN BASIC MEDIUM

PRACTICE
Give the complete balanced chemical equation for the following redox reaction in
basic medium.
1. Fe(OH)2(s) + H2(g) → Fe(s) + H2O(l)
2. CrO42–(aq) + Cl–(aq) → ClO–(aq) + Cr(OH)3