Redox reactions

Oxidation and reduction

Common types of chemical reactions:
 Combination (synthesis)
 Decomposition
 Displacement (single/double)
 Combustion
 Redox

 Reactions in which oxidation and reduction occur are called redox reactions.
Oxidation

 A gain of oxygen is called oxidation.

magnesium + oxygen  magnesium oxide
2Mg (s) + O2 (g)  2MgO (s)
 The magnesium has gained oxygen  it has been oxidised.

 Mg : 0  +2  oxidised
 Reduction
 A loss of oxygen is called reduction.

copper(II) oxide + hydrogen  copper + water

CuO (s) + H2 (g)  Cu (s) + H2O (l)

Oxidation and reduction always

take place together. So the
reaction is called a redox reaction.
Oxidation and reduction

 The burning of petrol is a redox reaction. So is the 'burning' of glucose in

our cells. It reacts with oxygen to give us energy, in a process called
respiration.
 When an element burns in oxygen, it is oxidised to its oxide.
 Another name for burning is combustion. Combustion is a redox reaction.
Q

Magnesium reacts with sulfur dioxide like this:

2Mg (s) + SO2 (g)  2MgO (s) + S (s)

Use labelled arrows to show which substance is oxidised, and which is

reduced.
Q

Many people cook with natural gas, which is mainly methane, CH4. The
equation for its combustion is:

CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g)  CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)

Show that this is a redox reaction.

Q

Write down the equation for the reaction between aluminium and oxygen. Use
labelled arrows to show which element is oxidised, and which is reduced.
Q

CH3CH2OH  CH3COOH

The fermentation of ethanol gives ethanoic acid (vinegar

acid). Determine whether ethanol is oxidized or reduced.
Redox and electron transfer

 If a substance loses electrons during a reaction, it has been oxidised.

 If it gains electrons, it has been reduced.

Oxidation Is Loss of electrons.

Reduction Is Gain of electrons.
 Half-equations
 Half-equations can be used to show the electron transfer in a reaction.
 One half-equation shows electron loss, and the other shows electron gain.

1. Write down each reactant, with the electrons it gains or loses.

magnesium: Mg  Mg2+ + 2e-
oxygen: O + 2e-  O2-
 Half-equations
2. Check that each substance is in its correct form (ion, atom or molecule) on each side of
the arrow. If it is not, correct it.
Oxygen exists as molecules, so you must change O to O2:
oxygen: O2 + 4e-  2O2-
3. The number of electrons must be the same in both equations. If it is not, multiply one (or
both) equations by a number, to balance them.
magnesium: 2 Mg  2 Mg2+ + 4e-
oxygen: O2 + 4e-  2O2-
Redox without oxygen
 Any reaction in which electron transfer takes place is a redox reaction.

2Na (s) + Cl2 (g)  2NaCl (s)

 sodium: 2Na  2Na+ + 2e- (oxidation)

 chorine: Cl2 + 2e-  2Cl- (reduction)
Fe metal + Fluorine gas = ?

1 – write the equation

2 – balance the equation using the half-equations method
 Redox without oxygen
 Chlorine and potassium bromide
Cl2 (g) + 2KBr (aq)  2KCl (aq) + Br2 (aq)
colourless
orange
Bromine has been displaced. The half-equations for the
reaction are:
chlorine: Cl2 + 2e-  2Cl- (reduction)
bromide ion: 2Br-  Br2 + 2e- (oxidation)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JDTAelU6gQ&t=
From half-equations to the ionic equation
Adding the balanced half-equations gives the ionic equation for the reaction.
 An ionic equation shows the ions that take part in the reaction.
For example, for the reaction between chlorine and potassium bromide:
Cl2 + 2e-  2Cl-
2Br-  Br2 + 2e-
Cl2 + 2e- + 2Br-  2Cl- + Br2 + 2e-
The electrons cancel, giving the ionic equation for the reaction:
Cl2 + 2Br-  2Cl- + Br2
a summary:
 Oxidation is gain of oxygen, or loss of electrons.
 Reduction is loss of oxygen, or gain of electrons.
 Oxidation and reduction always take place together, in a redox reaction.
Q
Write the ionic equation for the reaction between magnesium and iron(III) nitrate.
 Changes in oxidation state
 Oxidation state tells you how many electrons each atom of an element has gained, lost, or shared, in
forming a compound.
The rules for oxidation states

1. Each atom in a formula has an oxidation state.

2. The oxidation state is usually given as a Roman numeral. (0, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)

3. Where an element is not combined with other elements, its atoms are in oxidation state 0.

4. Many elements have the same oxidation state in most or all their compounds. (H -> +I, Group I metals
-> +I, Group II metals -> +II, aluminium -> +III, Group VII elements in compounds without oxygen -
> -I, oxygen -> -II)
Changes in oxidation state
The rules for oxidation states

5. Atoms of transition elements can have variable oxidation states in their compounds. (i.e. Fe +II and +III,
Cu +I and +II, Mn +II, +IV and +VII)

6. The oxidation states must add up to zero in any compound formula and to the charge of the ion in
compound ions.

- If oxidation states change during a reaction, it is a redox reaction.

 Q
a. Work out the oxidation state of the carbon atom in carbon dioxide, CO 2.

b. Carbon burns in oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Write a chemical equation for the reaction.

c. Using oxidation states, show that (b) is a redox reaction, and say which substance is oxidised, and which
is reduced.
 Q
a. Write a word equation for this reaction:
2H2 (g) + O2 (g)  2H2O (l)

b. Copy out the chemical equation from a. Below each symbol write the oxidation state of the atoms.

c. Is the reaction a redox reaction? Give evidence.

d. Say which substance is oxidised, and which is reduced.

 Q
a. Write a word equation for this reaction:
2KI (aq) + Cl2 (g)  2KCl (aq) + I2 (aq)

b. Copy out the chemical equation from a. Below each symbol write the oxidation state of the atoms.

c. Is the reaction a redox reaction? Give evidence.

d. Say which substance is oxidised, and which is reduced.

Q
Every reaction between two elements is a redox reaction. Do you agree with this
statement? Explain.

2H2 + O2  2H2O

4Li + O2  2Li2O

2Na + F2  2NaF

Na + Li  ?
Q

What is the oxidation state of Mn in KMnO4?

Q

What is the oxidation state of Cr in Na2Cr2O7?

Q

What is the oxidation state of N in NH4NO3?

Oxidising and reducing agents
 An oxidising agent (oxidant) oxidises another substance – and is itself reduced.
 A reducing agent (reductant) reduces another substance – and is itself oxidised.

copper(II) oxide + hydrogen  copper + water

CuO (s) + H2 (g)  Cu (s) + H2O (l)
 The copper(II) oxide is reduced to copper by reaction with hydrogen. So hydrogen acts as a reducing
agent.
 The hydrogen is itself oxidised to water, in the reaction. So copper(II) oxide acts as an oxidising agent.
 Oxidising and reducing agents
 Strong oxidising agents have a strong drive to gain electrons. (e.g. oxygen, chlorine)
 Strong reducing agents readily give up electrons to other substances. (e.g. hydrogen, carbon
monoxide, reactive metals)
Potassium manganate(VII)
an oxidising agent

 Potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4, is a purple compound.

 Manganese in oxidation state +II is more stable than in +VII.
 It is strongly driven to reduce its oxidation by gaining electrons.
 Potassium manganate(VII) acts as a powerful oxidising agent.
 It can be used to test for the presence of a reducing agent.

MnO4-(aq) Mn2+(aq)
Manganate (VII) ion manganese (II)
ion
purple
colorless
YouTube video of the oxidation of ethanol with
potassium dichromate.
 Potassium iodide
a reducing agent

 H2O2(aq) + 2KI(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  I2(aq) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

2I-(aq) 
I2(aq)
colorless red-brown

 Potassium iodide is used to test for the presence of an oxidising agent.

Q
Identify the oxidising and reducing agents in these reactions, by looking
at the gain and loss of oxygen:

a. 2Mg (s) + O2 (g)  2MgO (s)

b. Fe2O3 (s) + 3CO (g)  2Fe (l) + 3CO2 (g)

 Q
Identify the oxidising and reducing agents in these:

a. 2Fe + 3Cl2  2FeCl3

b. Fe + CuSO4  FeSO4 + Cu