Unit 10: Aqueous Chemistry – Redox Reactions

Redox Reactions (short for “oxidation-reduction”)

o Electrons are exchanged: one substance loses electrons (oxidation) while another gains them
(reduction)
o Two complementary reactions – one cannot occur w/o the other (think: conservation of electrons)
o We have seen these before! (e.g. combustion, single replacement, decomposition, synthesis)

All I really needed to know about redox I learned from Leo…

LEO

LEO Loss of Electrons

is Oxidation
the Lion Says
GER
GER
Gain of Electrons
is Reduction
e.g. Copper wire in silver nitrate solution:

 Total molecular (TM) equation

 Total ionic (TI) equation

 Net ionic (NI) equation

Redox reactions can always be split up into two half reactions:

1. Oxidation half reaction – Copper began as a neutral atom and changed into an ion with a +2 charge.

2. Reduction half reaction – Silver was converted from an ion with a +1 charge to a neutral atom.

Oxidation Numbers
o An “electron bookkeeping” system – keeps track of who gains and who loses electrons and how
many electrons are involved; helps identify which substance is oxidized and which is reduced
o Polar covalent bonds: electrons are shared unequally between 2 atoms (electronegativity!); atoms
partially gain (δ–) or partially lose (δ+) electrons

δ–
e.g. H2O δ+ H : O : H δ+  Each hydrogen atom has “lost” one electron to oxygen
the oxygen atom has “gained” two electrons

o Partial charges given to atoms in this way are called oxidation numbers:
 H is assigned an oxidation number of +1 because the oxygen atom “loses” one electron.
 O is assigned an oxidation number of –2 because the oxygen atom “gained” two electrons.

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez

Unit 10: Aqueous Chemistry – Redox Reactions

Assigning oxidation numbers

Rule Example(s)
The oxidation number of a pure element (by itself and
1
not an ion) is zero.
The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion (by itself
2
or as part of an ionic compound) is equal to its charge.
The oxidation number of H is (almost) always +1 when
3
it is in a compound.
The oxidation number of oxygen is (almost) always –2
4 when it is in a compound.
Exception: peroxides, where oxidation # of O is –1
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral
5
compound is zero.
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion
6
is equal to the charge on that ion.

Practice – Determine the oxidation number for each element in the following compounds:
1. Cl2O3 2. Mn2O7 3. Cr2O7–2 4. NH4+

Recognizing Redox Reactions

o A change in oxidation numbers indicates that a redox reaction has occurred.

e.g. Consider the synthesis of sodium chloride from its elements:

Reduced:
2 Na (s) + Cl2 (g)  2 NaCl (s) Oxidized:
Oxidizing agent:
Reducing agent:

Practice – For each of the following reactions, assign oxidation numbers to each element, label electron
gain/loss, and determine the substance reduced, the substance oxidized, the oxidizing agent, and the
reducing agent.

1. Mg (s) + Cl2 (g)  MgCl2 (s)

2. N2 (g) + 3H2 (g )  2NH3 (g)

3. 2MnO4− (aq) + 10Cl− (aq)  5Cl2 (g) + 2Mn2+ (aq)

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez