Oxidation – Reduction

Reactions
6.13 define oxidation and reduction;
- loss and gain of electrons,
- a change in oxidation state.
6.15 identify oxidation and reduction
reactions.
 REDOX REACTIONS
OXIDATION and REDUCTION are opposite
processes that occur in certain reactions.
These are known as REDOX REACTIONS

Oxidation Reduction
Gain of oxygen Loss of oxygen

Loss of hydrogen Gain of hydrogen

Loss of electrons Gain of electrons

Increase in Decrease in
oxidation number oxidation number
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF
ELECTRON TRANSFER

For example, when sodium and chlorine react to form sodium

chloride:

 The sodium atom has transferred its outermost electron

to chlorine to form sodium chloride.
 The sodium atom has lost an electron
 The chlorine atom has gained an electron
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF
ELECTRON TRANSFER
OXIDATION is the LOSS OF ELECTRONS
by an element in its free
state, or an element in a
compound.

REDUCTION is the GAIN OF ELECTRONS

by an element in its free
state, or an element in a
A redox reaction occurs if there is a
compound.
transfer of electron(s) during the reaction.
In a redox reaction, if one substance is
oxidised, the other is being reduced.
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF
ELECTRON TRANSFER

Example 1: Reaction of sodium with chlorine

Na loses electrons (oxidation)

2Na + Cl2 2Na+ + 2Cl-

Cl2 gains electrons (reduction)

Sodium is oxidised (loss of electron) and chlorine is
reduced (gain of electron) to form sodium chloride.
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF
ELECTRON TRANSFER

Example 2: Reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid

Mg loses electrons (oxidation)

Mg + 2H+Cl-  Mg2+Cl-2 + H2

H+ gains electrons (reduction)

Magnesium is oxidised to magnesium chloride (loss of

electrons)
Hydrochloric acid is reduced to hydrogen. (gain of electron).
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF
ELECTRON TRANSFER

Example 3: Reaction of iron(II) chloride with

chlorine.
Fe2+ loses electron to become Fe3+ (Oxidation)

2Fe2+Cl-2 + Cl2  2Fe3+Cl-3

Cl gains electron to become Cl- (Reduction)

Iron(II) chloride is oxidised to iron(III) chloride (loss of

electrons)
Chlorine is reduced to iron(III) chloride (gain of electrons)
 REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS
OXIDATION NUMBER

OXIDATION is the INCREASE in oxidation

number of an element in its
free state, or an element in a
compound.
REDUCTION is the DECREASE in oxidation
number of an element in its
free state, or an element in a
compound.
REDOX REACTIONS AS CHANGES IN
OXIDATION NUMBER

 When an atom or ion loses an electron, it is oxidised

and its oxidation state increases:
E.g. Na0  Na+ + e- (From 0  +1)
E.g. Fe2+  Fe3+ + e- (From +2  +3)
 When an atom or ion gains an electron, it is reduced
and its oxidation state decreases:
E.g. Cl0 + e-  Cl- (From 0  -1)
E.g. Mg2+ + 2e-  Mg (From +2  0)
REDOX REACTIONS AS CHANGES IN
OXIDATION NUMBER
Example 1: Reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid

0 + - 2+ - 0
Mg + 2H Cl  Mg Cl2 + H2

Step 1: Write down the balanced chemical equation.

Step 2: Write down the oxidation number of each

atom or ion in the equation.
 REDOX REACTIONS AS CHANGES IN
OXIDATION NUMBER

Step 3: Look for an atom or ion which has changed its

oxidation number in going from left to right in the
equation.
Oxidation (from 0 to +2)

0 + - 2+ - 0
Mg + 2H Cl  Mg Cl2 + H2

Reduction (from + 1 to 0)

Step 4: Determine whether it is oxidation (increase in

oxidation state) or reduction (decrease in
oxidation state).
 REDOX REACTIONS AS CHANGES IN
OXIDATION NUMBER

Example 2: Reaction of potassium iodide with chlorine.

Chlorine is reduced to KCl

( decrease in oxidation state)

2K+ I− + Cl20  2K+ Cl− + I20

Potassium iodide is oxidised to iodine.

( increase in oxidation state)

Notice that there is no change in K+ (in KI) to K+ (in KCl);

hence the potassium ion has not been oxidised or reduced.
 To remember these definitions, remember
two words. OIL RIG:

OIL Oxidation Is Loss

RIG Reduction Is Gain

 Quick check 1

1. State which substance is OXIDISED or REDUCED. Give a

reason for your answer.

(a) C + O2  CO2

(b) Mg + H2O  MgO + H2

(c) 2CO + O2  2CO2

(d) 2HI + Cl2  2HCl + I2

(e) CuO + H2  Cu + H2O

(f) Cl2(g) + H2S(g)  2HCl(g) + S(s)

 Quick check 1 (cont’d)

2. State which substance is OXIDISED or REDUCED. Give a

reason for your answer.

3. (a) ZnO + H2  Zn + H2O

(b) CO2 + 2Mg  2MgO + C

(c) Mg + H2O  MgO + H2

(d) Fe2O3 + 3CO  2Fe + 3CO2

(e) H2 + Cl2  2HCl

(f) CuO + Mg  Cu + MgO
(g) FeS + 2HCl  FeCl + H S