And the ions combine to form hydrogen fluoride: nd the copper is reduced:

H2 + F2 → 2 H+ + 2 F− → 2 HF Cu2+ + 2 e−
→ Cu
Displacement reactions Other examples

Redox occurs in single displacement

Oxidizers  The oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III) by hydrogen
reactions or substitution reactions. The redox A good example is the reaction
peroxide in the presence of an acid:
Substances
component that have the
of these ability
types to oxidize
of reactions is other
the change between hydrogen and fluorine in which hydrogen is
substances arestate
of oxidation said (charge)
to be oxidative or oxidizing
on certain atoms, notandthe being oxidized
Fe2+ → Feand
3+
+ fluorine
e− is being reduced:
are known
actual as oxidizing
exchange agents,oxidants,
of atoms or oxidizers.
in the compounds.
H2H+
2O 2
F+ 2 e− → 2 OH−
2 → 2 HF
Put another way, the oxidant removes electrons from
Overall equation:
another substance, and is thus itself reduced. And, We can write this overall reaction as two half-
2 Fe2+ + H2O2 + 2 H+ → 2 Fe3+ + 2 H2O
reactions:
For example,
because in theelectrons,
it "accepts" reaction it is also called
anbetween
electroniron and copper(II) sulfate solution:
acceptor. the oxidation reaction:
 The reduction

OxidantsFeare
+ CuSO
usually4 → FeSO4 + Cu
chemical elements or of nitrate to nitrogen in the presence of
H2 → 2 H+ + 2 e−
substances The ionic
with equation
elements in for
highthis reactionnumbers
oxidation is: an acid (denitrification):

(e.g., H2Fe
O2,+MnO−
Cu2+ → Fe2+ + Cu and the reduction reaction:
− − +
2 NO3 + 10 e + 12 H → N2 + 6 H2O
4, CrO3, Cr2O2−
As two half-equations, it is seen that the F2 4+Fe2+e−
3 O2 → 2 Fe2O3
7,OsO4) or
iron is oxidized: →2F −
highly electronegative substances/elements that can
 [The combustion of hydrocarbons, such as in an internal
gain oneFeor→two
Fe2+ + 2 electrons
extra e− by oxidizing an Analyzing each half-reaction in isolation can often
combustion engine, which produces water, carbon dioxide, some
element or substance (O,F, Cl, Br). make the overall chemical process clearer. Because
partially oxidized forms such as carbon monoxide, and heat energy.
Reducers there is no net change in charge during a redox
Substances that have the ability to reduce other reaction, the number of electrons in excess in the
substances are said to be reductive or reducing and oxidation reaction must equal the number consumed
are known as reducing agents, reductants, by the reduction reaction (as shown above).
or reducers. That is, the reductant transfers electrons
to another substance, and is thus itself oxidized. And,
Electron flow by way of single electron transfer The combustion of methane to carbon dioxide is an
oxidation and reduction can be predicted using oxidation of carbon because the oxidation number of
standard reduction potential data (below). carbon increases from -4 to +4

The second method of changing the oxidation

number is by reversal of bond polarisation at the
defined centre.

Hydrogen is electropositive and it renders the carbon

of methane, CH4, electron rich and it is defined as
having an oxidation number of -4. However, the
carbon of carbon dioxide has an oxidation number of It follows that Redox Chemistry can proceed by three
+4 because oxygen is more electronegative than types of redox reaction:
carbon. (Each bond contributes once.)

Carbon is able to exist in several oxidation states:

Introduction to Redox Chemistry
Redox chemistry is concerned with net electron flow
to and from a defined centre during a chemical
reaction. A defined centre may be:
A defined centre is said to be oxidised if the electron
density decreases, and reduced if electron density
increases, during a reaction. The rule is:
Loss of electrons equates with Oxidation
and
Gain of electrons equates with Reduction
The oxidation of a defined centre can be changed in
two ways.
Firstly by Single Electron Transfer (SET) to the
defined centre (reduction) or from the defined centre
(oxidation). For example, the iron(III) ion, Fe3+, can
be reduced to iron(II), Fe2+. The reaction can also
occur in the oxidation direction.
The reduction electron can either be provided by a
chemical reducing agent (often a metal) or
electrochemically.
So, while positive x-values give us values like
these:
...negative x-values give us
values like these:

Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel

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