How do redox reactions differ from other types of reactions?

In a redox reaction there is an exchange of electrons around the nucleus of the atoms. Meaning the charges change if you were to look at each individual atom; it would be a completely separate ion: from Cl(-) to Cl(2-). In other types of reactions the atom simply bonds with a different atom (i.e. MgCl(2) to CaCl(2)) Redox (or oxidation- reduction) reactions involve the transfer of electrons. Oxidation involves losing an electron (the charge will increase by one) and reduction involves gaining an electron (the charge decreases by one). People remember this with the mnemonic OIL RIG (oxidation is losing, reduction is gaining). Here's an example of iron, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, yielding a different oxidation state of iron and water: 2Fe^2+ + H2O2 + 2H^+ 2Fe^3+ + 2H2O (sorry, this font won't do superscripts or subscripts) You should be able to figure out, based on the oxidation states (charges), which reactants were oxidized and which were reduced. Why are oxidation and reduction considered as complementary processes? Complementary usually means 'it fills in the gaps left by the other one'. Oxidation is really just the removal of electrons and reduction is just the addition of electrons (reduces the charge). If one happens somewhere in a reaction then so must the other. Because one is a gain of electron and the other is a loss of electron. They are not NECESSARILY paired up. Atoms can loose electrons and form a plasma (that is, the electrons are not picked up by another atom), but in almost every cases, you need to have a donor and a taker. One molecule must give its electrons, and another must take them, or else the molecule wouldn't have anywhere to dump its electrons. So whenever an oxidation takes place, a reduction is bound to happen to. a. Redox reaction The answer is: hydrolysis of water because: 2H2O--->2H2 + O2 Hydrogen has a charge of +1 and has priority according to redox reaction rules: so for H2O: +2 + Oxygen=0 so Oxygen charge is -2. In 2H2: charge of H is 0. In O2: charge of O is 0 because its in its elementary form. So there is a gain of electrons hence oxidation where the charge of hydrogen changed from +2 to 0 (gained two electrons) and oxygen changed from -2 to o )lost two electrons)..hence a redox reaction

b. yes.

An electrolysis experiment forces a nonspontaneous chemical reaction to occur. This is achieved when two electrodes are submersed in an electrically conductive solution, and the electrical voltage applied to the two electrodes is increased until electrons flow. The electrode receiving the electrons, or where the reduction reactions occur, is called the cathode. The electrode which supplies the electrons, or where the oxidation reactions occur, is called the anode. A molten salt is an example of something that may be electrolyzed because salts are composed of ions. When the salt is in its solid state, the ions are not able to freely move. However, when the salt is heated enough until it melts (making it a molten salt), the ions are free to move. This mobility of the ions in the molten salt makes the salt electrically conductive. In the electrolysis of a molten salt, for example melted , the cation of the salt (in this case ) will be reduced at the cathode, and the anion of the salt (in this case ) will be oxidized at the anode: Cathode reaction: Na+ + e Na Anode reaction: 2Cl Cl2 + 2e Aqueous solutions of salts can be electrolyzed as well because they are also electrically conductive. In aqueous solutions, there is an additional reaction possible at each the cathode and the anode: Cathode: 2H2O + 2e H2 + 2OH (reduction of water) Anode: 2H2O 4H+ + O2 + 4e (oxidation of water) With the addition of these two reactions, there are now two possible reactions at each electrode. At the cathode, either the reduction of the cation or the reduction of water will occur. At the anode, either the oxidation of the anion or the oxidation of water will occur. The following rules determine which reaction takes place at each electrode: Cathode: If the cation is a very active metal, water will be reduced. Very active metals include Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, and Ba. If the cation is an active or inactive metal, the cation will be reduced. Anode: If the anion is a polyatomic ion, water will generally be oxidized. Specifically, sulfate, perchlorate, and nitrate ions are not oxidized; water will oxidize instead. Chloride, bromide, and iodide ions will be oxidized. If the anion in one salt is oxidized in an aqueous electrolysis, that same anion will also be oxidized in any other salt.

C d. analyze

Sodium hydroxide(aq)+sulfuric acid(aq)---> sodium sulfate(aq)+water(I)?

Directions read: Write a balanced equation and indicate the reaction type (single,double replacement, decomposition, or composition/synthesis) What r the steps one must take to get the balanced equation, and be able to recognize the reaction type? Thank you soo much for your help in advance. Im very thankful for any useful help I get!! 2 years ago Report Abuse

Urmila

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It's a double replacement/neutralization reaction. You should be able to figure this out from the fact that you have two compounds. The only one of the 5 basic reaction typesthat has two compounds reacting is the double replacement reaction and all the reactants must be aqueous or else a reaction can't occur since there'd be no ions to react. 2NaOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)====>Na2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)