• RULES FOR ASSIGNING OXIDATION NUMBERS (ST

• 1. Any free (unattached) element with no charge has the oxid

of zero. Diatomic gases such as O2 and H2 are also in this ca
• 2. All compounds have a net oxidation state of zero. The oxid
state of all of the atoms add up to zero.

• 3. Any ion has the oxidation state that is the charge of that io
Polyatomic ions (radicals) have an oxidation state for the wh
that is the charge on that ion. The ions of elements in Group
VII (halogens) and some other elements only have one likely
state.
• 4. Oxygen in compound has an oxidation state of -2 except fo
as peroxide, which is minus one.
• 5. Hydrogen in compound has an oxidation state of plus one
for hydrogen as hydride, which is minus one.
•
 Practice Problem

• Assign the oxidation numbers of the

atoms in the following compounds.
• (a) Al2O3

• (b) XeF4

• (c) K2Cr2O7
 SOLUTION
• (a) The sum of the oxidation numbers in Al2O3 must be zero
because the compound is neutral. If we assume that oxygen is
present in the -2 oxidation state, the oxidation state of the
aluminum must be +3.
• Al2O3: 2(+3) + 3(-2) = 0
• (b) Because the oxidation number of the fluorine is -1, the
xenon atom must be present in the +4 oxidation state.
• XeF4: (+4) + 4(-1) = 0
• (c) Assigning oxidation numbers in this compound is simplified
if you recognize that K2Cr2O7 is an ionic compound that
contains K+ and Cr2O72- ions. The oxidation state of the
potassium is +1 in the K+ ion. Because the oxidation number of
oxygen is usually -2, the oxidation state of the chromium in the
Cr2O72- ion is +6.

• Cr2O7-2: 2(+6) + 7(-2) = -2
LOSES ELECTRONS GAINS ELECTRONS

REDUCING AGENT OXIDIZING AGENT

IS OXIDIZED IS REDUCED
 GER

L
LEO
 HALF REACTIONS

A REDOX REACTION MAY BE CONSIDER IN

TWO PARTS, ONE REPRESENTING A LOSS
OF ELECTRONS (OXIDATION) AND THE
OTHER REPRESENTING A GAIN OF
ELECTRONS (REDUCTION).
EACH REACTION IS KNOWN AS A HALF –
REACTION.
EXAMPLE

Mg(s) + Cl2 → MgCl2

Mg0 → Mg+2 + 2e- (oxidation) / Reducing Agent.

Cl2 + 2e- → 2Cl- (reduction) / Oxidizing Agent

____________________________________________

Mg + Cl2  MgCl2
Cu + AgNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + Ag(s)

Cu → Cu+2 + 2e- Oxidation/ Reducing Agent

Ag+ + e- → Ag Reduction/ Oxidizing Agent

1 [ Cu → Cu+2 + 2e- ]

2 [ Ag+ + e- → Ag ]
_____________________________________7

Cu + 2 Ag+ → Cu+2 + Ag (s)

Sno + Ag+ → Sn2+ + Ago

1 [ Sn0 → Sn2+ + 2∕e- ] Oxidation

2 [Ag+ + 1∕e- → Ag0 ] Reduction

__________________________________________.

Sn0 + 2Ag+ → Sn2+ + 2Ag0