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O Level Chemistry

REDOX REACTIONS
Oxidation Addition of Oxygen. Loss of Hydrogen. Loss of Electrons. Increase in Oxidation state. Reduction Loss of Oxygen. Addition of Hydrogen. Addition of Electrons. Decrease in Oxidation state.

Note: The last of the above is the deciding definition for any redox reaction & it is to be written as the general definition in the exam.

Examples: 1. CuO + H2 Cu + H2O In this reaction, CuO is said to be reduced since it losses oxygen & H2 is said to be oxidized since it gains oxygen. 2. H2S(g) + Cl2(g) S(s) + 2HCl(g) In this reaction, Cl2 is said to be reduced since it is gaining hydrogen to form HCl and H2S is said to be oxidized as it is losing hydrogen to form S. 2NaCl(s) 3. 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) In this reaction, Na is said to be oxidized since electrons are escaping from it to form Na+ and Chlorine is said to be reduced since it is gaining electrons to form Cl-. Also, Na is said to be oxidized since its oxidation number is increasing from 0 to +1. Chlorine is reduced due to a decrease in oxidation state from 0 to -1.

Finding out the unknown oxidation state of any element in a compound:

1. Find out the oxidation state of Mn in KMnO4? +1 + + (2x4) = 0 = +7 2. Find out the oxidation state of Cr in K2Cr2O7? +2 + 2 14 = 0 = +6

Prepared by Mr. Saad Hameed, M.Sc. Chemistry, teacher at Beaconhouse School Lahore. Mob: 0300-4291902.

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Redox Reactions

3. Find out the oxidation state of S in H2SO4? +2 + 8 = 0 = +6 4. Find out the oxidation state of N in HNO3? +1 + 6 = 0
= +5

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents:

1. Oxidizing Agents: These are those substances which oxidize others and are themselves reduced. Common oxidizing agents are KMnO4, K2Cr2O7, H2O2, Cl2, Br2 etc. 2. Reducing Agents: These are those substances which reduce others and are themselves oxidized. Reducing agents can be classified as, i. In terms of the ability to gain oxygen: H2, C & CO (as they react with O2 to form CO2), S & SO2 (they both react with O2 to form SO3). ii. In terms of the ability to lose electrons: Nearly all metals, KI, I- (more reactive than I2). Note: Redox reaction occurs between an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent. If two oxidizing agents undergo a redox reaction, then one of them must be a stronger oxidizing agent than the other. In that case, the weak one has to act as a reducing agent. The same holds for reducing agents.

Tests for oxidizing and reducing agents:

All tests are reactions but all reactions are not tests. 1. Reducing Agents: To the sample to be tested for a reducing agent property, acidified KMnO4 (aq) is added. If colour changes from pink to colourless, then it is a reducing agent. Also, to the sample, we can add acidified K2Cr2O7 (Potassium Dichromate). If colour changes from orange to green, then a reducing agent is present. The reaction can be written as, Cr+6(aq) Cr+3(aq) Note: K2Cr2O7 (aq) is better than KMnO4 (aq), as its colour change is more prominent when viewed under naked eye. 2. Oxidizing Agents: To the sample to be tested for the presence of oxidizing agent, KI (aq) is added. If colour changes from colourless to brown, then an oxidizing agent must be present. The reaction can be written as, KI (aq) (Colourless) I2 (aq) (Brown)
Prepared by Mr. Saad Hameed, M.Sc. Chemistry, teacher at Beaconhouse School Lahore. Mob: 0300-4291902.

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Redox Reactions

Note: Although, I2 (s) is dark violet or black, but in aqueous form, it gives a brown colour. Question: Which one of the following reactions, (a) displacement reactions and (b) double displacement reactions, are redox reactions and why? Answer: KI + Cl2 NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) 2KCl + I2 (Displacement reaction) NaCl(s) + H2O(l) (Neutralization, a double displacement rxn)

Displacement reactions are redox reactions because the oxidation state of some elements increase or decrease. Double displacement reactions are not redox reactions because there is no change in oxidation state of any of the elements. Question: What are the oxidizing agents in reactions of the type given below? 2M + H2O + O2 M2O + H2O2 Answer: In such reactions, where the following two conditions are present, 1. There are two reactants and three products. 2. Water is one of the products formed. Then, water is ignored for our convenience to find out the oxidizing and reducing agents. So, Oxidizing agent: M2O (As loss of O2 to form 2M) Reducing agent: H2O2 (As loss of H2 to form O2) Note: Fe(II) compound change colour in air due to oxidation to Fe(III) compounds e.g. FeSO4 (light green) when exposed to air, is oxidized to Fe2(SO4)3 (Yellowish brown). Acids are strong oxidizing agents while Chlorine is a very strong oxidizing agent: Fe + 2HCl 2Fe + 3Cl2 FeCl2 + H2 2FeCl3 Fe+3 can be done by using strong oxidizing agent

Fe Fe+3 OR Fe+2 Chlorine.

Confirmation of Chlorine being a strong oxidizing agent

Prepared by Mr. Saad Hameed, M.Sc. Chemistry, teacher at Beaconhouse School Lahore. Mob: 0300-4291902.

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Redox Reactions

Chlorine can also oxidize Fe+2 compounds to Fe+3 compounds. For example, 2FeCl2 + Cl2 2FeCl3 Comparison of reactions HCl with Na2CO3 and HCl with Na2SO3: 2HCl + Na2CO3 2HCl + Na2SO3 2NaCl + H2O + CO2 2NaCl + H2O + SO2

The reactions are similar but just the difference is C & S. Note: A general rule of making a formula is that the positive particle comes first followed by a negative one. An important exception to this rule is that NH3 in which N has the oxidation state of -3, but still it is placed before H which has the oxidation state of +1.

Prepared by Mr. Saad Hameed, M.Sc. Chemistry, teacher at Beaconhouse School Lahore. Mob: 0300-4291902.