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Worksheet G1.4
REDOX REACTIONS
The term "REDOX" comes from the two words REDuction and OXidation. These two
processes always go together: when one thing is oxidised, something else must be reduced.
SIMPLE DEFINITIONS
Oxidation
Oxidising Agent
Reduction
The loss of oxygen, e.g. iron (III) oxide is reduced in the blast furnace to
iron metal by carbon (coke).
Reduction for metals does not always involve the oxide of the metal.
When a metal is obtained from any of its compounds (e.g. sodium from
sodium chloride) it has been reduced.
Reducing Agent
QUESTIONS
In terms of oxygen, identify what has been oxidised and what has been reduced in the following
reactions.
1) S (s) + O2 (g)
SO2 (g)
oxidised = .
sulphur dioxide
reduced = ..
oxidised = .
reduced = .
Cu(s) + H2O(l)
oxidised = .
reduced = .
4th Form
Worksheet G1.4
MORE ADVANCED DEFINITIONS
The previous definitions of oxidation and reduction are easily applied to reactions where oxygen
is involved, but there are many situations where this is not the case, in particular where there are
ions. A more complete treatment of redox reactions requires us to see whether electrons have
been transferred from one atom or ion to another.
Oxidation
Oxidising Agent
Reduction
The GAIN of electrons, e.g., the oxygen atoms involved in the reaction
with magnesium pick up two electrons each and become O2- ions.
Reducing Agent
MEMORY AID
Oxidation Is Loss
Reduction Is Gain
(of electrons)
Page 2
4th Form
Worksheet G1.4
Metal Displacement Reactions
A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive one from its compounds. This can happen
with metal salts in solution. We must remember that in compounds a metal is in the form of
positive ions. A metal element is made up of neutral atoms. The example below shows
magnesium metal displacing zinc from zinc sulphate solution:magnesium
metal
zinc
sulphate
magnesium
sulphate
zinc
metal
Mg (s)
ZnSO4 (aq)
MgSO4 (aq)
Zn (s)
The sulphate ion, SO42-, does not actually take any part in this reaction it is a spectator ion so
we can write an ionic equation leaving this out:Mg (s)
Zn2+ (aq)
Mg2+ (aq)
Zn (s)
It is now clearer to see that Mg atoms must have lost electrons to become Mg 2+ ions and the Zn2+
ions must have gained electrons to become neutral Zn atoms:Mg (s) Mg2+ (aq) + 2e -
and
Zn2+ (aq) + 2e -
Zn (s)
2+
Mg
Zn
QUESTIONS
Complete and balance the following ionic equations. In terms of electrons, decide what has been
oxidised and what has been reduced in each case.
5) Zn (s) +
Zn (s) +
CuSO4 (aq)
+ Cu (s)
Oxidised =
6) Pb (s) +
Pb (s) +
2 AgNO3 (aq)
. Ag+ (aq)
Reduced =
Oxidised =
Page 3
Reduced =
4th Form
Worksheet G1.4
Halogen Displacement Reactions
The Halogens are the elements in Group VII of the Periodic Table Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine
and Iodine. Their atoms have 7 electrons in the outer shell and so are only 1 short of a Noble
Gas configuration. The elements exist as diatomic molecules, i.e., 2 atoms joined together by
sharing a pair of electrons in a single covalent bond (e.g., Cl 2). The atoms can pick up an extra
electron to form negative ions (e.g., Cl -). A more reactive Halogen element can displace a less
reactive one from its compounds. The example below shows chlorine displacing bromine from
potassium bromide solution.
chlorine
potassium
bromide
potassium
chloride
bromine
Cl2 (aq)
2 KBr (aq)
2 KCl (aq)
Br2 (aq)
The potassium ion, K+, is a spectator ion so we can write an ionic equation leaving this out:Cl2 (aq)
Cl
2 Br - (aq)
2 Cl - (aq)
Br
Cl
Br2 (aq)
Br
Br
Cl
Br
Cl
It is now clearer to see that Br - ions must have lost electrons to become Br2 molecules and the
Cl2 molecules must have gained electrons to become Cl - ions:2 Br - (aq) Br2 (aq) + 2e -
and
Cl2 (aq) + 2e -
2 Cl - (aq)
QUESTIONS
Complete and balance the following ionic equations.
been oxidised and what has been reduced in each case.
7) Cl2 (aq) + 2 NaI (aq)
2 NaCl (aq)
+ I2 (aq)
.. (aq) + I2 (aq)
Oxidised =
8) Br2 (aq) + 2 KI (aq)
2 KBr (aq)
Reduced =
+ I2 (aq)
.. (aq) + I2 (aq)
Oxidised =
Page 4
Reduced =