REDOX REACTIONS

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
WHERE CAN YOU FIND
REDOX REACTIONS?
WHAT IS A REDOX REACTION?
REDuction and OXidation
This is the transfer of electrons from one reactant to another.
The change in the charge, or oxidation number is redox
OIL RIG:
Oxidation is Loss of electron(s), Reduction is Gain of electron(s)
 OXIDIZED/REDUCED VS.
OXIDIZING/REDUCING AGENT
The species that is oxidized is the one that loses an electron
This is the same as the reducing agent: it caused reduction BECAUSE it is oxidized
itself.

The species that is reduced is the one that gains an electron

This is also the oxidizing agent: it causes the oxidation of something else
because it gains an electron.

Often Redox reactions are split into half-cells, one for reduction, one for oxidation
F2 + 2 e 2 F Reduction: e-
H2 + F2 2 HF gained
H2 2 H+ + 2 e Oxidation: e- lost
 Reduction of Half-Cell
-
e e- e-

F F + e- F F
- -
F2 + 2e 2F
OXIDATION STATE
The Oxidation state of an atom is a way of keeping track of where
electrons go in compounds and reactions.

It is like the atoms charge if the shared electrons were divided

Ex: HCl Chlorine attracts the electron from Hydrogen to make it happy, so it has 1
additional electron, making a -1 oxidation number. Hydrogen lost the electron, so is
+1

The trick with the periodic table is to see how many electrons an atom
needs to gain/lose to make it happy like the noble gasses.
Fluorine needs 1 electron; has a -1 Ox state. Mg has two free electrons; has a +2 Ox
state.
OXIDATION NUMBER IDENTIFICATION RULES
The oxidation state of an atom in a free element is 0 Cu or Cl2 Ox=0

The oxidation state of a monoatomic ion is equal to its Ca2+ Ox = +2

charge Cl- Ox = -1

The sum of the oxidation states of all atoms in:

Neutral molecule is equal to 0 HCl sums to 0 (H is +1, Cl is -1) H, Li, Na, K, etc. Ox = +1
An ion is equal to its charge OH- sums to -1 (O is -2, H is +1) Be, Mg, Ca, etc. Ox = +2

Group 1A metals always have an oxidation state +1

Group 2A metals always have an oxidation state +2
Group 7A metals have -1, 6A metals have -2, and 5A
metals have -3
PRACTICE FINDING OXIDATION NUMBERS

Ag Ox: Free atom: Ox of Ag = 0

CaF2 Ox: Ca = +2 , F = -1

H 2S Ox: H = +1 , S = -2

CO32- Ox: C = +4 , O = -2
EXAMPLES OF REDOX REACTIONS

Zn + 2HCl -> Zn2+ + H2 +2Cl-

Zn 2e- + Zn2+ and 2HCl + 2e- H2 + Cl-
*Cl doesnt change charge: not oxidized or
reduced*

Al + NO3- + 4H+ Al3+ + NO + 2H2O

Al Al3+ + 3e- and NO3- + H+ +3e- NO + 2H2O

What is the point to all this?

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

The generation of electricity through redox reactions carried out in a

device
Voltaic (or Galvanic) cell: produces electrical current
Electrolytic cell: consumes electrical current
 Parts of the
Cell
The electrode that oxidation takes place is the anode, and
reduction takes place at the cathode.
In galvanic cells, the anode is labeled (-) and the cathode is labeled
(+)

An Ox: Red Cat:

Anode is Reduction
where occurs
Oxidation at the
occurs Cathode
The negative Zn electrode pushes the
electrons to the Cu electrode. The Zn then
becomes Zn2+ and dissolves in solution. This
is why the reaction doesnt last forever
MY RESEARCH AT BRIDGEWATER
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells:
Solar panels right now use silicon, which is expensive at high purities.
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) use cheap material, but may not be as
efficient

We use Raspberry dye to help it to absorb

the suns wavelengths

The solution in between transfers electrons by

using a redox reaction
 WHAT IS A DYE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL?

Dye-from Raspberries
Anthocyanin
Working Electrode
Titanium Oxide (TiO2)
Counter Electrode
Carbon Layer (Soot)
Electrolyte Solution
Iodide Triiodide (I-/I3-)
 I3- + 2e- I33- 3I- Since it is a cycle to
replenish electrons, the
forward reaction is
reduction and the
The electrons come I33- doesnt last very long, reverse reaction is
from it immediately changes oxidation
the carbon layer to I-
 APPLYING A BIAS
There is a change in current over time,
which we want to characterize.

Specifically, I am applying a voltage in the

opposite direction to see the change in
current.

So far, the data isnt supporting my

hypothesis that current is effected by the
bias

It is ok to have a hypothesis that the data

Mr. Bollingers version:
If scientists are able to innovate and continue to make new
discoveries, it is only because they stand on the failures and
successes of many scientists before them
YOUR TURN!!!
Worksheet on redox, and labeling.
Example for #1:
Ag+

Example for #2:

4Li + O2 2Li2O