CHAPTER 13

RedOx Reactions
 Reduction – Oxidation Reactions

 The Mnemonics:
LEORAION GEROADON

Increase # of charge Decrease # of charge

Reducing Agent Oxidizing Agent
Oxidation Reduction
Loss of electrons Gain of electrons
 Rules for Oxidation Number

 Oxidation number of element in its natural state

is zero.
 Oxidation number of ions is equal to its charge
 The sum of individual oxidation numbers of all the
atoms in a neutral compound is zero.
 The sum of individual oxidation numbers of all the
atoms in an ion is equal to the charge of the ion.
 Rules for Oxidation Number

 In compounds, oxidation number of:

H when combined with nonmetals is +1, and when
combined with metals is -1
 Oxygen except when combined with Fluorine (O =
+2) or in peroxides and superoxide is -2
 Halogens (Cl, Br, I) except when in combination
with oxygen is -1
 Group 1 metals is +1 and group 2 metals is +2
 Rules for Oxidation Number
 Example: ClO4- , oxidation number of Cl?
let x be the oxidation number of Cl and from the rules
oxidation number of O is -2, and the overall charge is -1
then:

x + 4(-2) = -1, solving for x

x = +7 = oxidation number of Cl

Why 4?
4 because it is the number oxygen in the ion
 Rules for Oxidation Number
 Example: K2Cr2O7 , oxidation number of Cr?
let x be the oxidation number of Cr and from the rules
oxidation number of O is -2, K is +1, and the overall
charge is 0, then

2(+1) + 2x + 7(-2) = 0, solving for x

x = +6 = oxidation number of Cr

Why 2 and 7?
2 and 7 because it is the number potassium and
chromium, and oxygen in the compound, respectively
 Exercise

 Compute for the oxidation number of the following

underlined elements.
a) NO3-1 Answer: 5 c) AsO4-3   Answer: 5
b) CrO4-2 Answer: 6 d) S2O3-2 Answer: 2
 Tell which of the following reactions undergo reduction or
oxidation.
a) CH  CH OOH Answer: Oxidation
4 2

b) MnO2  MnO4- Answer: Oxidation

Answer: Reduction
c) ClO3-  Cl-
Answer: Reduction
3+ 2+