OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS

REDOX reactions are important in Purifying metals (e.g. Al, Na, Li)

Producing gases (e.g. Cl2, O2, H2)

Electroplating metals

REDOX reactions are important in

Electrical production (batteries, fuel cells)

Protecting metals from corrosion Balancing complex chemical equations

Sensors and machines (e.g. pH meter)

OXIDATION
originally referred to the reaction of oxygen with an element or compound

Reduction
reactions that result in the removal of oxygen from a compound

Terminology for Redox Reactions OXIDATIONthe loss of electron(s) REDUCTIONgain of electron(s)

Terminology for Redox Reactions OXIDIZING AGENTelectron acceptor; the substance reduced
REDUCING AGENTelectron donor; the substance oxidized.

Another way to remember

OIL RIG

Which is more readily oxidized in each pair?

a.Mg and Cl b. K and I c. Na and N d. F and Ca

Oxidation Number
Oxidation states are numbers
assigned to atoms that reflect the net charge an atom would have if the electrons in the chemical bonds involving that atom were assigned to the more electronegative atoms.

Oxidation states can be thought of as imaginary charges. They are assigned according to the following set of rules:

1.The oxidation number of an atom or molecule of uncombined element is zero. (O, Fe, N2 , P4 )

2. The oxidation number of any monoatomic ion is equal to its ionic charge.

3. The algebraic sum of the individual oxidation numbers of all the atoms in the formula of a neutral compound is zero.

4. The algebraic sum of the individual oxidation numbers of all the atoms in the formula of a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge of the ion.

5. The oxidation number of any polyatomic ion or molecule equals the algebraic sum of the oxidation numbers of all its constituent atoms.

6. In compounds, the oxidation number of: Hydrogen when combined with nonmetals is +1 Hydrogen when combined with metals is -1

 Oxygen, except when combined with fluorine or in peroxides or superoxides is -2 oxygen when combined with fluorine is +2

 Halogens (Cl, Br, I), except in combination with oxygen is -1

 alkali metals (Group 1 metals) is +1 alkaline earth metals is +2

Assign oxidation numbers to each of the atoms in the following

a. NaF b. N2 c. HI d. NH4Cl e. H2PO4