Redox Reactions

Oxidation and reduction can be defined in two ways

Oxidation
1. A loss of an electron or electrons of
a free element or an atom in a
compound
2. An increase in the oxidation state
(number) of a free element or an atom
in a compound

Reduction
1. A gain of an electron or electrons
for an element or an atom in a
compound
2. A decrease in the oxidation state
(number) of a free element or an atom
in a compound

What is a redox reaction?

All redox reactions exist when an element or a compound experiences a change
in their oxidation state going from the left hand side of the equation to the right
hand side.
Rules for determining oxidation state of elements
1.

The oxidation state of any free, uncombined element is zero e.g. N in N2,
O in O2, Pb in Pb etc
2. The oxidation state of atoms of elements in a compound in group I or II is
+1 or +2 respectively.
3. The oxidation state of oxygen is usually -2, except in peroxides e,g.
hydrogen peroxide, where it is -1.
4. Hydrogen usually has an oxidation state of +1 except in ionic hydrides
(compounds with only a metals and hydrogen) then it is -1 e.g. NaH
5. The oxidation state of any free halide ion or a halogen in a binary
compound is -1.
6. The sum of oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero.
7. The sum of oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge
of the ion.
NB The oxidation state of a monoatomic ion is equal to the charge on the
ion.
Oxidation and reduction ALWAYS occur at the same time in a chemical
reaction. If one substance is oxidized, some other substance must be reduced.
Remember the substance oxidized is the REDUCING AGENT and the
substance reduced is the OXIDISING AGENT.
In rare cases when an element or compound is simultaneously oxidized and
reduced in the same chemical reaction, this is called disproportionation.
0
-1
-1
e.g. Cl2 + NaOH NaClO + NaCl + H2O

How to write full balanced equations using two half equations

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
e.g.

In equations, electrons are present.

When combining two equations, one must ensure the number of
electrons involved are the same for both equations.
This is done by multiplying one or both equations by an integer to
make the number of electrons equal in both equations.
When this is done, all the species in the equation would be multiplied
by that integer chosen.
Combine the two half equations without adding the electrons and
you are done!
Remember the full equation must have the same total charge on both
sides!!!
I
II

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

Fe2+ - e- Fe3+

Equation I has 6 electrons involved and equation II has 1 electron involved.

Therefore equation II is multiplied by 6 to have 6 electrons involved. Therefore
equation II changes to: 6Fe2+ - 6e- 6Fe3+
Combining both equations and removing the electrons would give:6Fe2+ + Cr2O72- + 14H+ 6Fe3+ + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
Practice Questions
Balance the following half equations to form full redox equations
a)
Cu (s) 2e- Cu2+(s)
.
b) H2O+NO2NO3+2H++2e5e+8H++MnO4Mn+2+4H2O
.
c)
6e + Cr2O72 +14H+
2Cr3++ 7H2O HNO2 +H2O
NO3 + 3H+ + 2e
.
d)
Cr(OH)3 + H2O
CrO42 + 5H+ + 3e ClO3 + 6H+ + 6e
Cl + 3H2O
.
e) 2 I- I2 + 2e5 e- + 8 H+ + MnO4- Mn2+ + 4 H2O
.
END OF REDOX REACTIONS