Oxidation Reduction

1. Addition of oxygen 1. Removal of oxygen

2. Removal of an Hydrogen 2. Addition of Hydrogen
3. Addition of an electronegative 3. Removal of an electronegative
element. element.
4. Addition of an electropositive 4. Addition of an electropositive
element element.
5. Loss of electron(s) 5. Gain of electron(s)
6. Increase in oxidation number. 6. Decrease in oxidation, number.

 Reducing Agent : Donor of electron(s). www.tiwariacademy.com

 Oxidising Agent : Acceptor of electron(s).
 Redox Reaction : Reactions in which oxidation and reduction takes place
simultaneously.
 Oxidation Number : It is charge that an atom appears to have in a given
species when the bonding electron are counted towards more elec-
tronegative atom.
 Calculation of Oxidation Number :
(a) O.S. of all the elements in their elemental form (in standard state)
is taken as zero. O.S. of element of Cl2, F2, O2, P4, O3, Fe(s), H2,
N2, C (graphite) is zero.
(b) Common O.S. of elements of 1st group is +1. Common O. S. of
elements of 2nd group + 2.
(c) For ions composed of only one atom, the oxidation number is equal
to the charge on the ion.

Redox Reactions 83
 (d) The oxidation number of oxygen in most compounds is – 2. While in
peroxides (e.g., H2O2, Na2O2), each oxygen atom is assigned an
oxidation number of – 1, in super oxides (e.g., KO2, RbO2) each
oxygen atom is assigned an oxidation number of – (½).
(e) In oxygen di ¯uoride (OF2) and dioxygen di¯uoride (O2F2), the oxygen
is assigned an oxidation number of + 2 and + 1, respectively.
(f) The oxidation number of hydrogen is + 1 but in metal hydride its
oxidation no. is – 1.
(g) In all its compounds, ¯uorine has an oxidation number of – 1.
(h) The algebraic sum of the oxidation number of all the atoms in a
compound must be zero.
(i) In polyatomic ion, the algebraic sum of all the oxidation numbers of
atoms of the ion must equal the charge on the ion.
 Types of Redox Reactions:
(i) Combination Reaction : 0 0 +2 –3
3 Mg (s) + N2 (g)  Mg3N2 (s)
(ii) Decomposition : +1 +5 – 2 +1–1 0
3KClO3(s)  2 KC1(s) + 3O2 (g)
(iii) Metal Displacement : + 2 + 6 – 2 0 +2+6–2 0
CuSO4 (aq) + Zn(s)  ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
(iv) Non-metal displacement : 0 +1–2 +2–2+1 0
3 Ca (s) + 2 H2O (1)  Ca (OH)2 + H2 (g)
(v) Disproportionation : It is a reaction in which same element is
reduced and oxidized simultaneously.
0 –1 +1
C12 (g) + 2 OH– (aq)  Cl– (aq) + CIO– (aq) + H2O (1)
 Stock Notation : Representing oxidation number of metal in Roman
numerals within parenthesis after the symbol or name of metal in the
molecular formula or name of a compound. e.g., Stock Notation of Ferric
oxide is Fe2(III)O3 or Iron (III) oxide.
 Fractional Oxidation Number : When two or more atoms of an element
are present in different oxidation states, then calculated oxidation number
may comes out as fractional due to average of all the different oxidation
states.

84 Chemistry Class XI
 In reality no element can have a fractional oxidation state.. .
 Electrode or Redox Couple : A redox couple is de®ned as having together
oxidized and reduced forms of a substance taking part in an oxidation or
reduction half reaction.
 Electrode Potential (E) : Tendency of an electrode to gain or lose
electrons.
 Standard Electrode Potential (E°) : Electrode Potential measured at 298
K and 1M concentration of metal ions (or 1 bar pressure of gas).
 Electrochemical Cell : A device in which chemical energy of a spontaneous
redox reaction is converted into electrical energy.

Cell diagram,
Zn(s) | Zn2+ (aq) || Cu2+(aq) | Cu(s)
LHS oxidation, Zn  Zn2+ + 2e–
RHS reduction Cu2+ + 2e–  Cu
Overall reaction Zn + Cu2+ (aq)  Zn2+ (aq) + Cu
 Representation of an Electrochemical cell :
———— Flow of electrons ———
¬———— Flow of current ———
Left Electrode Salt Bridge Right Electrode
Oxidation Reduction
Anode Cathode
Negative Positive
 Functions of Salt Bridge : (i) To complete inner circuit. (ii) To maintain
electrical neutrality.

Redox Reactions 85
 Flow learning

1-Mark Questions
Oxidation-Reduction : Classical, Electronic and Oxidation Number Concept
1. De®ne oxidation and reduction according to electronic concept.
2. De®ne oxidation and reduction according to oxidation number.
3. A freshly cut apple is almost white but it turns reddish brown after some.
Give reason.
4. De®ne oxidation number.
5. Write oxidation number of Mn in KMnO 4.
6. Write oxidation Number of Cr in Cr2O72–.
7. Write Stock Notation of MnO2 and AuCl3.
Redox Reactions
8. De®ne redox reaction with example.
9. De®ne disproportionation reaction. Give one example.
10. De®ne the term Redox tirration.
11. Name the indicator used in redox titrations involving K 2Cr2O7 as an
oxidizing agent.
Redox Reactions and Electrode Processes
12. At what concentration of Cu2+ (aq) will electrode potential become equal
to its standard electrode potential ? [Ans. 1 M]

86 Chemistry Class XI
 13. The standard reduction potentials of three metals cations X, Y and Z are
+ 0.52, – 3.03 and – 1.18 V respectively. Arrange X, Y and Z in order of
increasing reducing power. [Ans. X < Z < Y]
14. An electrochemcial cell consists of two electrodes i.e., Anode and Cthode.
What is the direction of ¯ow of electrons in this cell ?
15. Why anode is negatively charged in an electrochemical cell.
16. Out of Zn and Cu vessel one will be more suitable to store 1 M HCl ?
[Ans. Cu]
Given = – 0.76 V, = + 0.34 V.
15. Is it safe to stir 1 M AgNO3 solution with copper spoon ? [Ans. No]
Given = + 0.80 V, = + 0.34 V.
2 Mark Questions
Oxidation-Reduction: Classical, Electronic and Oxidation Number Concept
1. Identify oxidant and reluctant in the reaction : I2 (aq) + 2S2O32– (aq)  2
I– (aq) + S4O62–(aq).
2. Calculate oxidation number of Fe in Fe3O4 and write a suitable justi®cation
of your answer.
3. Oxidation-reduction reactions are complementary. Explain.
4. Write formula for the following compounds :
(i) Mercury (II) chloride
(ii) Nickel (II) sulphate
(iii) Iron (III) sulphate
(iv) Chromium (III) oxide
Redox Reactions
5. Justify that the reaction : H2O(s) + F2  HF + HOF is a redox reaction.
[NCERT]
6. A decomposition reaction may or may not be a redox reaction. Write two
decomposition reactions in support of the statement.
7. Split the reaction 2 K (s) + C12 (g)  2 KC1 (s) into oxidation and reduction
half reactions.

Redox Reactions 87
 8. Calculate the oxidation number of underlined elements in following
compounds :
(i) CaO2 (ii) H2S2O7 (iii) K2MnO4 (iv) KI3
Redox Reactions and Electrode Processes
9. Write the functions of salt bridge in an electrochemical cell.
10. De®ne the term redox couple. Write the practical application of redox
couple.
11. The standard reduction potentials of two metals A and B are – 0.76 V and
+ 0.34 V respectively. An electrochemical cell is formed using electrodes
of these metals.
(i) Identify the cathode and anode.
(ii) Write the direction of ¯ow of electron.

3 Mark Questions
Oxidation-Reduction : Classical, Electronic and Oxidation Number Concept
1. Calculate oxidation number of :
(i) Cr in Cr2O42–
(ii) O in KO2
(iii) Na in Na2O2.
2. Account for the following :
(i) HNO3 acts as oxidizing agent while HNO2 can act both as reducing
and oxidizing agent.
(ii) AgF2 is unstable compound and a strong oxidizing agent.
(iii) Ozone acts as an oxidizing agent.
Redox Reactions
3. Rermanganate ion (MnO4–) reacts with sulphur di oxide gas in acidic
medium to produce Mn2+ ion and hydrogen sulphate ion. Write ionic
equation and blance by ion electron method.
4. Balance the following equation by oxidation number method :
P4(s) + OH– (aq)  PH3 + H2PO2– (aq)
5. Balance the following equation in basic medium :
C12O7 (g) + H2O2 (1)  ClO2– (aq) + O2 (g)

88 Chemistry Class XI
Redox Reactions and Electrode
6. Depict the galvanic cell in which the reaction Zn (s) + 2 Ag+ (aq)  Zn2+
(aq) + 2 Ag (s) takes place. Further show :
(i) Which electrode is negatively charged ?
(ii) The carriers of the current in the cell
(iii) Individual reaction at each electrode. [NCERT]
7. Explain why ?
(i) Reaction FeSO4 (aq) + Cu (s) CuSO4 (aq) + Fe does not occur.
(ii) Zinc can displace copper from aqueous CuSO4 solution but Ag cannot.
(iii) Solution of AgNO3 turns blue when copper rod is immersed in it.
5 Mark Questions
Redox Reactions
1. (i) MnO42– undergoes disproportionation reaction in acidic medium but
MnO4– does not. Give reason.
(ii) Give one example each of the following redox reactions:
(a) Combination reaction
(b) Decomposition reaction
(c) Metal displacement reaction
Redox Reactions and Electrode Processes
2. Consider the cell reaction of an electrochemical cell : Ni(s) + 2 Ag+(aq)
 Ni2+ (aq) + 2 Ag (s) and answer the followmg questions :
(i) Write anode and cathode half reactions.
(ii) Mention the direction of ¯ow of electrons.
(iii) How is the electrical neutrality maintained in the solutions of the two
half cells.
(iv) Write the formula for calculating standard emf of this cell.
(v) How does the emf change when the concentration of silver ions is
decreased ?

Redox Reactions 89