Oxidation-Reduction

Reactions
Introduction
 Oxidation is the loss of electrons
 atom becomes more positive

 Reduction is the gain of electrons

 atom becomes more negative

 Oxidation and reduction always occur

simultaneously. Processes are called
redox reactions.
 LEO
LEO says
says GER
GER

Lose Electrons = Oxidation

Gain Electrons = Reduction
 Introduction
“LEO the lion says GER”

LEO: Lose Electrons Oxidation

GER: Gain Electrons Reduction

OIL RIG
OIL: Oxidation Is Loss of electrons
RIG: Reduction Is Gain of electrons
Redox Reactions
 Reactions where both reduction &
oxidation occur

 Synthesis, combustion, decomposition,

& single replacement are redox
reactions

 Double replacement & neutralization

reactions are not
 Oxidation-Reduction
Reactions
 Reactions in which one or more
electrons are transferred
 Also called redox rxns
 Example:
2Na + Cl2  2NaCl
CH4(g) + 2O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) +
energy
Introduction
Mg + S  Mg2+ + S 2-

Oxidation: Mg  Mg2+ + 2e-

Reduction: S + 2e-  S 2-
Oxidation Numbers
 Oxidation # is the apparent charge
of an atom

 Also called oxidation state

 Assigned to atoms in chemical

formulas to keep track of electrons
in redox reactions
 Rules for Oxidation Numbers(p.665)

1. Ox. number of an element is zero

2. Ox. number of a monatomic ion is the
same as its charge
3. Oxygen is –2 unless it is in a peroxide
where it is –1
4. Hydrogen is +1 unless it is in a metal
hydride where it is –1
5. Fluorine is always –1
6. Sum of ox. numbers is zero for neutral
cpds or equal to the charge of the ion
 Oxidation Numbers
Assign the oxidation numbers to
each element in the following:
 CO
2
 NO31-
 K2SO4
 Fe2O3
Redox Reactions
 Oxidation:
 Loss of electrons
 Increase in ox #

 Reduction:
 Gain of electrons
 Decrease in ox #
Redox Reactions
oxidation

2Na + Cl2  2NaCl

Ox. #: 0 0 +1 -1

reduction
 Redox Reactions
 Oxidizing agent:
 causes oxidation of another element

 it is reduced

 Reducing agent:
 causes reduction of another element

 it is oxidized
 Redox Reactions
oxidation

2Na + Cl2  2NaCl

Ox. #: 0 0 +1 -1

reduction
Na is oxidized and is the reducing agent (e-donor) Ox#
increased
Cl2 is reduced and is the oxidizing agent (e-acceptor).
OX # decreased.
.
 Redox Reactions
oxidation

4K + O2  2K2O
ox #: 0 +1

K is oxidized
(loses e-, gets more positive,
oxidation # increases)
Redox Reactions
4K + O2  2K2O
ox #: 0 -2

reduction
O is reduced
(gains e-, gets more negative,
oxidation # decreases)
 Redox Reactions
oxidation

4K + O2  2K2O
ox #: 0 0 +1 –2

reduction

K is oxidized & O is reduced

Oxidizing agent: O
Reducing agent: K
 Redox Reactions
 What is being oxidized? Reduced?
What is the oxidizing agent?
Reducing agent?

1. Fe2O3+ 3CO  2Fe + 3CO2

2. SO32- + H+ + MnO4- 
SO42- + H2O + Mn+2
 Redox Reactions
reduction
Fe2O3+ 3CO  2Fe + 3CO2
Ox. #: +3 -2 +2 -2 0 +4 -2

oxidation

C is oxidized and is the reducing agent.

Fe is reduced and is the oxidizing agent.
 Redox Reactions
oxidation
SO32- + H+ + MnO4-  SO42- + H2O + Mn+2
Ox. #:+4 –2 +1 +7 -2 +6 –2 +1 –2 +2

reduction

S is oxidized and is the reducing agent.

Mn is reduced and is the oxidizing agent.
 Redox Reactions
 Identify the element being oxidized
& reduced. Also identify the
oxidizing & reducing agents.

1. Zn + CuCl2  ZnCl2 + Cu
2. 2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2
3. 4HCl + O2  2H2O + 2Cl2
4. MnO2 + 4HCl  MnCl2 + Cl2 +2H2O
More Practice with Redox
 What’s being oxidized? Reduced?
What’s the oxidizing agent?
Reducing agent?

1. 2Fe + 3Cl2  2FeCl3

2. SO2 + 2H2S  3S + 2H2O

Balancing Redox Equations

1. Use oxidation numbers

(inspection)

2. Half-reaction method
(for acidic or basic solutions)
 Half Reactions
All redox reactions can be thought of as
happening in two halves
 Oxidation: electrons are products

 Reduction: electrons are reactants

Half-Reactions
 For oxidation:
Ag  Ag+ + e-
(e- are products)

 For reduction:
Ag+ + e-  Ag
(e- are reactants)
 Half-Reaction Method
Zn + Cu2+  Zn2+ + Cu
Ox. #: 0 +2 +2 0

Half-reactions:
1. Zn  Zn2+ + 2e-
(oxidation, e- are products)
2. Cu2+ + 2e-  Cu
(reduction, e- are reactants)
Half-Reaction Method
When to use it:
 Ionic equations

 Redox equations that can’t be

balanced by inspection
 Usually see an acid (or base) & water
in the reaction
Balancing Redox Equations
In Acidic Solutions:

1. Write each half rxn

2. Balance all elements except H & O
3. Balance O using H2O
4. Balance H using H+
Balancing Redox Equations
5. Balance charge using electrons
6. Multiply eqn(s) to make electrons
equal
7. Add eqns & cancel identical
species
8. Check that charges & elements
are balanced
Example

Fe2+ + Cr2O72-  Fe3+ + Cr3+

Steps 1&2
 Ox: Fe2+  Fe3+
 Red: Cr2O72-  2Cr3+

Steps 3&4
 Ox: Fe2+  Fe3+
 Red: 14H+ + Cr O 2-  2Cr3+ + 7H O
2 7 2
 Example
Fe2+ + Cr2O72-  Fe3+ + Cr3+
Step 5
 Ox: Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-
 Red: 6e-+14H+ + Cr O 2-  2Cr3+ + 7H O
2 7 2

Step 6:
 Ox: (Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-)6
 Red: 6e-+14H+ + Cr O 2-  2Cr3+ + 7H O
2 7 2
 Example
Steps 7-9:
 Ox: 6Fe2+  6Fe3+ + 6e-
 Red: 6e-+14H+ + Cr O 2-  2Cr3+ + 7H O
2 7 2

6Fe2++14H+ +Cr2O72-  6Fe3+ +2Cr3+ +7H2O

Half-Reaction Method
 Practice balancing these redox
reactions (in acidic solutions):

1. Cu + NO3-  Cu2+ + NO

2. MnO + PbO2  MnO4- + Pb2+

Balancing Redox Equations
 In Basic Solutions:
1-9. Use the same steps as for acidic
solutions
10.Add same # of OH- as H+ to both sides
of eqn
11.Form H2O on side with H+ & OH-,
cancel out extra H2O
12.Check that elements & charges are
balanced
Example in Basic Soln.

Cr3+ + ClO-  CrO42- + Cl-

Steps 1&2
 Ox: Cr3+  CrO42-
 Red: ClO-  Cl-
Steps 3&4
 Ox: 4H2O + Cr3+  CrO42- + 8H+
 Red: 2H+ + ClO-  Cl- + H2O
 Example in Basic Soln.
Cr3+ + ClO-  CrO42- + Cl-

Step 5
 Ox: 4H O + Cr3+  CrO 2- + 8H+ + 3e-
2 4

 Red: 2H+ + ClO- + 2e-  Cl- + H2O

 Step 6:
 Ox: (4H2O + Cr3+  CrO42- + 8H+ + 3e-)2
 Red: 3(2H+ + ClO- + 2e-  Cl- + H2O)
 Example in Basic Soln
Steps 7-9:
 Ox: 8H O + 2Cr3+  2CrO 2- + 16H+ + 6e-
2 4

 Red: 6H+ + 3ClO- + 6e-  3Cl- + 3H2O

5H2O + 2Cr3+ + 3ClO- 

2CrO42- + 10 H+ + 3Cl-
 Example in Basic Soln.

5H2O + 2Cr3+ + 3ClO- 

2CrO42- + 10 H+ + 3Cl-
Step 10:

5H2O + 2Cr3+ + 3ClO- + 10 OH-

2CrO42- + 10 H+ + 10 OH- + 3Cl -

2Cr3+ + 3ClO- + 10 OH- 2CrO42- 5H2O + 3Cl -

Spectators & net ionic equation

HCl + K2Cr2O7  KCl + CrCl3 + H2O + Cl2

Write half reactions. Include only atoms, ions

and molecules that are involved in change
of ox #.
Cl-  Cl2
Cr2O7  Cr+3
 Balancing Redox Reactions Using the
Oxidation Number Method

For redox reactions:

Hard to be balanced with inspection
Same atom both oxidized and reduced
 Balancing Redox Reactions Using the
Oxidation Number Method

Cl2 + KOH  KClO3 + KCl + H2O

Ox: Cl2  KClO3 ox# change is +5

Red:Cl2  KCl ox# change is -1
So, the ratio of KCl and KClO3 should be 5:1
Do the rest by inspection

3Cl 2 +
Final 6KOH KClO3 +5KCl +3 H2O
Answer:
How does Chemistry Affect
Us? Far and Wide
 For May SATII
 Agriculture (SATII questions!)
 What are the chemicals in the
fertilizer ?
 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium
containing compounds
How does Chemistry Affect
Us? Far and Wide
 Acid rain
- due to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides emission
How does Chemistry Affect
Us? Far and Wide
 Greenhouse gases effect:
A process that greenhouse gases absorb
thermal radiation, and re-radiate it in all
directions.
Greenhouse gases:CO2, CH4 (effect is 8
times more than CO2)
Dichlorodifluoromethane CFC’s

 Brand name Freon

 Used as aerosol in medicine (Inhaler)
 Used in most refrigeration
 Cause O3 depletion