CHAPTER 20 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions LEO SAYS GER

Pre-AP Chemistry Charles Page High School Stephen L. Cotton

The Meaning of Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

OBJECTIVES Define oxidation and reduction in terms of the loss or gain of oxygen, and the loss or gain of electrons.

The Meaning of Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

OBJECTIVES State the characteristics of a redox reaction and identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent.

The Meaning of Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

OBJECTIVES Describe what happens to iron when it corrodes.

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

Early chemists saw oxidation reactions only as the combination of a material with oxygen to produce an oxide. For example, when methane burns in air, it oxidizes and forms oxides of carbon and hydrogen, as shown in Fig. 20.1, p. 631

 Methane burns in air : CH4(g) + 2 O2 (g)CO2 (g) + 2H2O(g) Calsium burns in oxygen 2 Ca (s) + O2 (g) 2CaO(s)

Elemental iron slowly oxidizes to compounds such as iron (III) oxide, commonly called rust Fe (s) + 3O2(g) Fe2O3 (s)

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

But, not all oxidation processes that use oxygen involve burning: Elemental iron slowly oxidizes to compounds such as iron (III) oxide, commonly called rust Bleaching stains in fabrics Hydrogen peroxide also releases oxygen when it decomposes

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

A process called reduction is the opposite of oxidation, and originally meant the loss of oxygen from a compound A mixture of zinc powder and copper(II) oxide is heated : Zn(s) + CuO(s) ZnO(s) + Cu (s)
reduce

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

Oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously The substance gaining oxygen (or losing electrons) is oxidized, while the substance losing oxygen (or gaining electrons) is reduced.

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

Today, many of these reactions may not even involve oxygen Redox currently says that electrons are transferred between reactants

Mg

Mg2+

S2-

The magnesium atom changes to a magnesium ion by losing 2 electrons, and is thus oxidized The sulfur atom is changed to a sulfide ion by gaining 2 electrons, and is thus reduced.

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

2 Na Cl 2 2 Na Cl
Each sodium atom loses one electron: ( Oxidation )

Na Na e

Each chlorine atom gains one electron: ( Reduction )

Cl e Cl

LEO says GER :

Lose Electrons = Oxidation

Na Na e

Sodium is oxidized

Gain Electrons = Reduction

Cl e Cl

Chlorine is reduced

LEO says GER :

- Losing electrons is oxidation, and the substance that loses the electrons is called the reducing agent. - Gaining electrons is reduction, and the substance that gains the electrons is called the oxidizing agent.
Mg is the reducing agent Mg is oxidized loses e-

Mg(s) + S(s) MgS(s)

S is reduced gains e-

S is the oxidizing agent

Oxidation and Reduction (Redox)

It is easy to see the loss and gain of electrons in ionic compounds, but what about covalent compounds? In water, we learned that oxygen is highly electronegative, so: the oxygen gains electrons (is reduced and is the oxidizing agent), and the hydrogen loses electrons (is oxidized and is the reducing agent)

Not All Reactions are Redox Reactions

- Reactions in which there has been no change in oxidation number are not redox reactions.

Examples:
Ag N O3 (aq) Na Cl (aq) Ag Cl ( s) Na N O3 (aq)
2 Na O H (aq) H 2 S O 4 (aq) Na 2 S O 4 (aq) H 2 O(l )
1 2 1 1 6 2 1 6 2 1 2

1 5 2

1 5 2

Corrosion
Damage done to metal is costly to prevent and repair Iron, a common construction metal often used in forming steel alloys, corrodes by being oxidized to ions of iron by oxygen. This corrosion is even faster in the presence of salts and acids, because these materials make electrically conductive solutions that make electron transfer easy

Corrosion
Luckily, not all metals corrode easily
Gold and platinum are called noble metals because they are resistant to losing their electrons by corrosion Other metals may lose their electrons easily, but are protected from corrosion by the oxide coating on their surface, such as aluminum Iron has an oxide coating, but it is not tightly packed, so water and air can penetrate it easily

Corrosion
Serious problems can result if bridges, storage tanks, or hulls of ships corrode
Can be prevented by a coating of oil, paint, plastic, or another metal If this surface is scratched or worn away, the protection is lost

Other methods of prevention involve the sacrifice of one metal to save the second
Magnesium, chromium, or even zinc (called galvanized) coatings can be applied

Oxidation Numbers OBJECTIVES Determine the oxidation number of an atom of any element in a pure substance.

Oxidation Numbers OBJECTIVES Define oxidation and reduction in terms of a change in oxidation number, and identify atoms being oxidized or reduced in redox reactions.

Assigning Oxidation Numbers

An oxidation number is a positive or negative number assigned to an atom to indicate its degree of oxidation or reduction. Generally, a bonded atoms oxidation number is the charge it would have if the electrons in the bond were assigned to the atom of the more electronegative element

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

1) The oxidation number of any uncombined element is zero. 2) The oxidation number of a monatomic ion equals its charge.

2 Na Cl 2 2 Na Cl

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

3) The oxidation number of oxygen in compounds is -2, except in peroxides, such as H2O2 where it is -1.

4) The oxidation number of hydrogen in compounds is +1, except in metal hydrides, like NaH, where it is -1.

H2O

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

5) The sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in the compound must equal 0.

2 1

H2O
2(+1) + (-2) = 0 H O

Ca(O H ) 2
(+2) + 2(-2) + 2(+1) = 0 Ca O H

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

6) The sum of the oxidation numbers in the formula of a polyatomic ion is equal to its ionic charge.

? 2

N O3

? 2

S O4

X + 3(-2) = -1 N O
X = +5

X + 4(-2) = -2 S O X = +6

Reducing Agents and Oxidizing Agents

An increase in oxidation number = oxidation A decrease in oxidation number = reduction

Na Na e
0

Sodium is oxidized it is the reducing agent

Cl e Cl
Chlorine is reduced it is the oxidizing agent

Trends in Oxidation and Reduction Active metals: Lose electrons easily Are easily oxidized Are strong reducing agents Active nonmetals: Gain electrons easily Are easily reduced Are strong oxidizing agents
Conceptual Problem 20.3, page 643
Technology & Society page 644

Test Yourself
1. What happens to magnesium when it is oxidised ti MgCl2 ? A. It gains oxygen B. It loses two protons C. It electronic configuration becomes (2, 8, 8) D. It oxidation state increases. 2. Which reaction is an example of reduction ? A. Copper(II) oxide to copper B. Copper(II) oxide to copper(II) sulphate C. Hydrochloric acid to chlorine D. Iron(II) chloride to iron(III) chloride.

3. A reaction involving hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, is shown by the equation below : H2O2 + 2H+ + 2I- I2 + 2 H2O a) Is the reaction with hydrogen peroxide, a redox reaction ? b) Does hydrogen peroxide act as an oxidising agent or a reducing agent in this reaction ? Explain your answer.

Answer the test

1. The reaction that take place is Mg Mg 2+. The magnesium loses two electrons to become (2, 8). Its oxidation state increases from 0 to +2 2. The copper(II)oxide has lost oxygen to become copper, thus copper(II)oxide is reduced 3. a) H2O2 is reduced. The oxidation state of oxygen is reduced from -1 in H2O2 to -2 in H2O. I- is oxidised to I2 because there is an increase in the oxidation state from -1 to 0. Thus, it is a redox reaction. b) An oxidising agent oxidises another substance and is reduced in the process. H2O2 is reduced as it loses oxygen to form water. It is an oxidising agent.

Section 20.3 Balancing Redox Equations OBJECTIVES Describe how oxidation numbers are used to identify redox reactions.

Section 20.3 Balancing Redox Equations OBJECTIVES Balance a redox equation using the oxidation-numberchange method.

Section 20.3 Balancing Redox Equations OBJECTIVES Balance a redox equation by breaking the equation into oxidation and reduction halfreactions, and then using the half-reaction method.

Identifying Redox Equations

In general, all chemical reactions can be assigned to one of two classes: 1) oxidation-reduction, in which electrons are transferred:
Single-replacement, combination, decomposition, and combustion

2) this second class has no electron transfer, and includes all others: Double-replacement and acidbase reactions

Identifying Redox Equations

In an electrical storm, oxygen and nitrogen react to form nitrogen monoxide: N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g) YES! Is this a redox reaction? If the oxidation number of an element in a reacting species changes, then that element has undergone either oxidation or reduction; therefore, the reaction as a whole must be a redox. Conceptual Problem 20.4, page 647

Balancing Redox Equations

It is essential to write a correctly balanced equation that represents what happens in a chemical reaction Fortunately, two systematic methods are available, and are based on the fact that the total electrons gained in reduction equals the total lost in oxidation. The two methods: 1) Use oxidation-number changes 2) Use half-reactions

Using Oxidation-Number Changes

Sort of like chemical bookkeeping, you compare the increases and decreases in oxidation numbers.
start with the skeleton equation Step 1: assign oxidation numbers to all atoms; write above their symbols Step 2: identify which oxidized/reduced Step 3: use bracket lines to connect Step 4: use coefficients to equalize Step 5: make sure they are balanced for both atoms and charge Problem 20.5, 649

Using half-reactions
A half-reaction is an equation showing just the oxidation or just the reduction that takes place they are then balanced separately, and finally combined
Step 1: write unbalanced equation in ionic form Step 2: write separate half-reaction equations for oxidation and reduction Step 3: balance the atoms in the halfreactions

Using half-reactions
continued
Step 4: add enough electrons to one side of each half-reaction to balance the charges Step 5: multiply each half-reaction by a number to make the electrons equal in both Step 6: add the balanced half-reactions to show an overall equation Step 7: add the spectator ions and balance the equation Rules shown on page 651 bottom Conceptual Problem 20.6, page 652

Choosing a Balancing Method 1) The oxidation number change method works well if the oxidized and reduced species appear only once on each side of the equation, and there are no acids or bases. 2) The half-reaction method works best for reactions taking place in acidic or alkaline solution.