Oxidation and Reduction in Terms of Oxygen/Hydrogen Transfer

Understanding Oxidation and Reduction

1.

Oxidation and reduction can be understood from the aspect of:

a.

Losing or gaining oxygen

b.

Losing or gaining hydrogen

c.

Transferring of electron

d.

Changing of oxidation number

Oxidation and Reduction in Terms of Oxygen Transfer

1.

Oxidation is the process of gaining oxygen.

2.

Reduction is the process of losing oxygen.

3.

For example, in the extraction of iron from its ore:

Iron(III) oxide loses oxygen. Iron(III) oxide is reduced to iron. This is a reduction process.

Carbon monoxide gains oxygen. Carbon nonoxide is oxidised to become carbon dioxide. This is
an oxidising process.

Oxidation and Reduction in Terms of Hydrogen Transfer

1.

Oxidation is the process of losing hydrogen.

2.

Reduction is the process of gaining hydrogen.

3.

For example, ethanol can be oxidised to ethanal:

Ammonia loses hydrogen. Ammonia is oxidised to become nitrogen. This is an oxidation

process.

Bromine gains hydrogen. Bromine is reduced to become hydrogen bromide. This is a

reduction process.

Example:
Combustion of Magnesium in Air

Magnesium is oxidised to become magnesium oxide.

Displacement of copper(II) oxide by Carbon

Copper(II) oxide is reduced to become copper metal

Carbon is oxidised to become carbon dioxide.

Displacement of lead(II) oxide by Zinc

Zinc is oxidised to become zinc oxide.

Lead(II) oxide is reduced to become lead metal

Reaction between Magnesium and Steam

Water is reduced to become hydrogen gas.

Magnesium is oxidised to become magnesium oxide.

Hydrogen Sulphide Reacts with Chlorine

Hydrogen sulphide is oxidised to become sulphur.

Chlorine is reduced to become hydrogen peroxide.

Copper(II) oxide Reacts with Ammonia

Copper(II) oxide is reduced to become copper(II) metal.

Ammonia is oxidised to become nitrogen gas.

Oxidation and Reduction in Terms of Electron Transfer

Oxidation occurs when a reactant loses electron.

Reduction occurs when a reactant gain of electron.
Example:
CuO + Mg Cu + MgO
In this reaction,
a.
copper (II) ion in copper(II) oxide gains 2 electrons to form copper metal.
Half equation:
Cu2+ + 2e Cu
This is a reduction process.
b.

Magnesium metal loses 2 electrons to form magnesium ions in magnesium

oxide.
Half equation:
Mg Mg2+ + 2e
This is a oxidation process.

Summary
1.

Magnesium is oxidised because it loses2 electrons to form magnesium ion, Mg2+.

2.

Copper(II) oxide is reduced because copper(II) ion gains 2 electrons to form copper
metal, Cu.
Oxidation States (Oxidation Numbers)
Oxidation state shows the total number of electrons which have been removed from an element
(a positive oxidation state) or added to an element (a negative oxidation state) to get to its present
state.
Oxidation State of Some Elements
1. The oxidation state of an element is zero.
Example
Element

Oxidation State

Mg

H2

Br2

2. For a simple ion with single atom, the oxidation state is equal to the charge.
Example
Ion

Oxidation State

Cu2+

+2

Br-

-1

O2-

-2

Al3+

+3

3. Some elements almost always have the same oxidation states in their compounds:
Example 1: The oxidation state of oxygen is always -2 except peroxide, which is -1.
Compound

Oxidation state of
oxygen

H2O

-2

H2SO4

-2

ZnO

-2

KClO3

-2

H2O2

-1

Example 2: The oxidation state of hydrogen is always +1 except hydride, which is -1.
Compound

Oxidation state of
hydrogen

NH3

+1

HCl

+1

NaOH

+1

MgH2

-1

NaH

-1

4. The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms or molecule in a neutral compound is zero.
Example:
Ion

Sum of Oxidation State

H2O

CO2

NH3

5. The sum of the oxidation states of all the atoms in an ion is equal to the charge on the ion.
Example:
Ion

Sum of Oxidation State

NO3-

-1

CO32-

-2

PO43-

-3

NH4+

+1

Working Out the Unknown Oxidation State of an Element in A Compound

The sum of the oxidation state of each element in a compound are equal to the charge of

the compound.
This rule can be used to find the unknown oxidation number of an element is a
compound.

Example 1
Find the oxidation state of all the elements in a Chlorate(V), ClO3- ion.
Answer:
Oxidation number of O = -2
Oxidation number of Cl = x
x + 3(-2) = -1
x = -1 + 6 = +5
Example 2
Find the oxidation state of all the elements in a Potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4 ion.
Answer:
Oxidation number of K = +1`
Oxidation number of O = -2
Oxidation number of Mn = x
(+1) + x + 4(-2) = 0
x = -1 + 8
x = +7
Example 3
Find the oxidation state of all the elements in an Ammonium ion, NH4+ ion.
Answer:

Oxidation number of H = +1
Oxidation number of N = x
x + 4(+1) = +1
x = +1 - 4
x = -3