12/10/23

Redox

Do Now: In silence 
Answer the following questions in your books:

1. What is an electrolyte?
2. What is the positive electrode called?
3. What is a displacement reaction?
4. What is oxidation?
5. What does the term redox mean?
 The reactivity series can be used to predict if a metal will react with
a metal compound (e.g. chloride, nitrate or sulfate).
 If the metal is more reactive than the metal in the compound,
it competes with the less reactive metal.
more reactive less reactive more reactive less reactive
metal + metal  metal + metal
compound compound
The more reactive metal pushes out, or displaces, the less
reactive metal from its compound. This is called a displacement
reaction.
 If the metal is less reactive than the metal in the compound,
it will not compete and so there is no reaction.
less reactive more reactive
metal + metal  no reaction
compound
Question
Predict whether each of these reactions will take place.
Either complete the balanced equation or write ‘no
reaction’.
a. Ca + FeO →
b. Cu + ZnO →
c. Zn + FeO →
d. Ag + CuSO4 →
e. Mg + ZnCl2 →
f. Al + CuO →
g. Cu + Ca(NO3)2 →
How does oxidation and reduction fit into this?
• The more reactive the metal, it is more likely the metal atom will lose
electrons to form cations (positive ions).
• Displacement reactions are also redox (reduction/oxidation)
reactions.
Mg(s) + ZnCl2(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + Zn(s)

• The reaction above can be written as the ionic equation:

Mg(s) + Zn2+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + Zn(s)

• The chloride ions are spectator ions as they do not change.

• The ionic equation can be split into two half equations:

Mg(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2e
Zn2+(aq) + 2e → Zn(s)
Question
Explain whether these half
equations show oxidation or Oxidation Is the Loss of
reduction: electrons (OIL).

(a) Mg(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2e Reduction Is the Gain

of electrons (RIG).
(b) Zn2+(aq) + 2e → Zn(s)

Answer
(c) Oxidation as the
magnesium atoms lose two
electrons.
(d) Reduction as the zinc ions
gain electrons.
Extra challenge
1. Zinc reacts with copper nitrate solution.
Zn + Cu(NO3)2 → Zn(NO3)2 + Cu
a. Write the ionic equation for this reaction.
b. State what is meant by a spectator ion.
c. Write the two half equations for this reaction.
d. Explain what has been oxidised and what has been reduced in
this reaction.
2. Aluminium reacts with iron(III) oxide.
2Al + Fe2O3 → Al2O3 + 2Fe
e. Write the ionic equation for this reaction.
f. Write the two half equations for this reaction.
g. Explain what has been oxidised and what has been reduced in
this reaction
Answers
1 a Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu
b an ion that does not change during a reaction
c Zn → Zn2+ + 2e/Zn – 2e → Zn2+
Cu2+ + 2e → Cu
d Zinc atoms have been oxidised as they have lost (two)
electrons; copper ions have been reduced as they have gained
(two) electrons.
2 a Al + Fe3+ → Al3+ + Fe
b Al → Al3+ + 3e/Al – 3e → Al3+
Fe3+ + 3e → Fe
c Aluminium atoms have been oxidised as they have lost
electrons; iron ions have been reduced as they have gained
electrons.
Ores:
CC4.4 Recall the meaning of the term ‘ore’.
CC4.4 Recall some metals that are found uncombined in the Earth’s
crust.
CC4.7 Explain how and why some metals are extracted from their
ores by heating with carbon.
CC4.7 Explain how and why some metals are extracted from their
ores by electrolysis.
CC4.8 Describe two biological methods of meta extraction
(HIGHER).
CC4.8 Evaluate biological methods of metal extraction (HIGHER).

Fill in the gaps in the reactivity series

summary.
Metals
What do the following elements all have in common?
STRETCH: How do you think they are found in nature?

Silver Gold Platinum

Unreactive Metals
Gold, silver and platinum are very unreactive.

They are found naturally in their

native state.

As
uncombined
elements.
Iron Extraction
Iron is found in the ground as iron oxide and needs to be extracted so
that it can be used.
Ores
STRETCH:
An ore is a rock that contains enough
Write the word
of a compound to extract a metal for equation for how
carbon is used to
profit . Iron is extracted from iron extract iron from
iron oxide.
oxide by heating with carbon. The With which
metals will this
carbon is more reactive so it displaces
method not
it. work? Why?
Metal Extraction Summary
Questions
Method of
Metal
Extraction
1. Name 2 metals that can
Potassium
be extracted form their
Sodium ores by electrolysis.
Electrolysis of a
Calcium 2. Zinc can be extracted
molten compound
from zinc oxide (ZnO) by
Decreasing Reactivity

Magnesium
heating with carbon,
Aluminium
write the balanced
(Carbon) equation for this
Zinc reaction.
Heat an ore with 3. Why is electrolysis not
Iron
carbon used to extract zinc?
Copper
Silver Found as the
Gold uncombined element
Extracting Iron
Iron Oxide + Carbon  Iron + Carbon Dioxide
2Fe2O3 + 3C  4Fe + 3CO2
The metal must be less reactive than carbon so that it
can be displaced.
Developing Securing Exceeding
Write the What does the
balanced symbol metal in the
Copy down the
equation for the metal oxide need
modelled answer
reaction above. to be for the
above.
(Iron Oxide is reaction to take
Fe2O2) place.
 H
Bioleaching
Bacteria is grown on a low grade ore. The bacteria
produce a solution containing metal ions (copper, zinc,
nickel or cobalt), called a leachate. The metal is then
extracted from the leachate
by displacement using scrap
iron and purified by
electrolysis.
 H
Phytoextraction

Plants are grown that absorb

metal compounds.

The plants are burnt to form

ash, from which the metal is
then extracted.
 H
Bioleaching & Phytoextraction

Disadvantage

• Very slow
 H
Bioleaching & Phytoextraction

Advantage

• No harmful gases produced.

• Less damage to the landscape than mining.
• Conserves supplies of higher grade ores
 H
Bioleaching

Disadvantage

• Toxic substances and sulfuric acid can be produced by

the process, and damage the environment.
 H
Bioleaching

Advantage

• Does not require high temperatures.

 H
Phytoextraction

Disadvantage

• More expensive than mining some ores.

• Growing plants is dependent on weather conditions.
 H
Phytoextraction

Advantage

• Can extract metals from contaminated soils.