1
F321
Oxidation and Reduction
OXIDATION NUMBERS
Used to
tell if oxidation or reduction has taken place
work out what has been oxidised and/or reduced
construct half equations and balance redox equations
The number of electrons which must be
Atoms and
simple ions
added or removed to become neutral
atoms
Na in Na =
cations
Na in Na+ = +1
need to add 1 electron to make Na+ neutral
anions
Cl in Cl
need to take 1 electron away to make Cl neutral
Q.1
Molecules
= 1
neutral already ... no need to add any electrons
What is the oxidation state of the elements in ?
a) N
b) Fe3+
c) S2-
d) Cu
e) Cu2+
f) Cu+
The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to zero
Elements
H in H2
= 0
Compounds
C in CO2
= +4
and
O = -2
+4
and
2(-2) = 0
CO2 is neutral, so the sum of the oxidation numbers must be zero
one element must have a positive ON, the other must be negative
the more electronegative species will have the negative value
electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group
O is further to the right in the periodic table so it has the negative value (-2)
C is to the left so it has the positive value (+4)
one needs two Os at -2 each to balance one C at +4
Q.2
If the oxidation number of O is -2, state the oxidation number of the other element in...
a) SO2
b) SO3
(c) NO
d) NO2
e) N2O
f) MnO2
g) P4O10
h) Cl2O7
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F321
The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to the charge on the ion
Complex
ions
in SO42-
Example
Oxidation and Reduction
S = +6 , O = -2 [ i.e. +6 + 4(-2) = -2 ]
the ion has a 2- charge
What is the oxidation number (O.N.) of Mn in MnO4 ?
the O.N. of oxygen in most compounds is -2
there are 4 Os so the sum of the O.N.s = -8
the overall charge on the ion is -1, sum of all the O.N.s must add up to -1
the O.S. of Mn plus the sum of the O.N.s of the four Os must equal -1
therefore the O.N. of Manganese in MnO4 = +7
WHICH OXIDATION NUMBER ?
elements can exist in more than one oxidation state
certain elements can be used as benchmarks
Metals
HYDROGEN (+1)
except
0
-1
atom (H) and molecule (H2)
hydride ion, H [in sodium hydride, NaH]
OXYGEN
(-2)
except
0
-1
+2
atom (O) and molecule (O2)
in hydrogen peroxide, H2O2
in F2O
FLUORINE (-1)
except
atom (F) and molecule (F2)
have positive values in compounds
value is usually that of the Group Number
Al is +3
values can go no higher than the Group No.
Mn can be +2,+4,+6,+7
Non metals mostly negative based on their usual ion
can have values up to their Group No.
Cl is usually -1
Cl can be +1, +3, +5, +7
to avoid ambiguity, the oxidation number is often included in the name
e.g.
manganese(IV) oxide shows Mn is in the +4 oxidation state in MnO2
sulphur(VI) oxide for SO3
dichromate(VI) for Cr2O72phosphorus(V) chloride for PCl5.
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Q.3
F321
Oxidation and Reduction
What is the theoretical maximum oxidation state of the following elements ?
Na
Ba
Pb
Mn
Cr
State the most common and the maximum oxidation number in compounds of...
Li
Br
Sr
COMMON
MAXIMUM
Q.4
Give the oxidation number of the element other than O, H or F in
SO2
NH3
NO2
NH4+
IF7
Cl2O7
MnO42-
NO3
NO2
SO32-
S2O32-
S4O62-
What is odd about the value of the oxidation state of S in S4O62- ?
Can it have such a value ? Can you provide a suitable explanation ?
Q.5
What is the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds ?
CH4
C=
PCl3
H=
CS2
C=
Mg =
ICl5
H=
I=
H3PO4
MgCO3
H=
N=
Cl =
BrF3
Cl =
Cl =
H2SO4
NCl3
Cl =
S=
MgCl2
P=
Br =
F=
NH4Cl
N=
P=
H=
O=
Cl =
Mg =
SOCl2
S=
S=
C=
O=
O=
O=
Cl =
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F321
Oxidation and Reduction
REDOX REACTIONS
O.S.
Redox
When reduction and oxidation take place
+7
Oxidation
Removal of electrons; species get less negative / more positive
+6
Reduction
Gain of electrons; species becomes more negative / less positive
+5
+4
+3
REDUCTION in O.N.
Species has been REDUCED
e.g. Cl is reduced to Cl (0 to -1)
+2
+1
0
-1
INCREASE in O.N.
Species has been OXIDISED
e.g. Na is oxidised to Na+ (0 to +1)
-2
-3
O
X
I
D
A
T
I
O
N
-4
-5
-6
-7
OIL RIG
Oxidation Is the Loss
Reduction Is the Gain of electrons
Q.6
Q.7
Classify the following (unbalanced) changes as oxidation, reduction or neither.
a) Mg > Mg2+
b) O2- > O
c) Al3+ > Al
d) Fe3+ > Fe2+
e) Ti3+ > Ti4+
f) 2Q > Q2
What change takes place in the oxidation state of the underlined element ?
Classify the change as oxidation (O), reduction (R) or neither (N).
a) NO3 > NO
b) HNO3 > N2O
c) CH4 > CO
d) Cr2O72- > Cr3+
e) SO32- > SO42-
f) Cr2O72- > CrO42-
g) H2O2 > H2O
h) H2O2 > O2
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R
E
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
F321
Oxidation and Reduction
How to balance redox half equations
Step
1 Work out the formula of the species before and after the change;
2 If different numbers of the relevant species are on both sides, balance them
3 Work out the oxidation number of the element before and after the change
4 Add electrons to one side of the equation so the oxidation numbers balance
5 If the charges on all the species (ions and electrons) on either side of the
equation do not balance, add H+ ions to one side to balance the charges
6 If the equation still doesnt balance, add sufficient water molecules to one side
Example 1 Iron(II) being oxidised to iron(III).
Steps1/2
Fe2+
Step 3
+2
Step 4
Fe2+
>
Fe3+
+3
>
Fe3+
now balanced
Example 2 MnO4 being reduced to Mn2+ in acidic solution
Q.8
Steps 1/2
MnO4 >
Mn2+
Step 3
+7
+2
Step 4
MnO4 + 5e
>
Step 5
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Step 6
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Mn2+
Mn2+
Mn2+
Balance the following half equations
I2
>
C2O42-
>
2CO2
H2O2
>
O2
H2O2
>
H2O
Cr2O72-
>
Cr3+
SO42-
>
SO2
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4H2O
now balanced
F321
Oxidation and Reduction
Combining half equations
A combination of two ionic half equations, one involving oxidation and the other reduction,
produces a balanced REDOX equation. The equations can be balanced as follows...
Step
1 Write out the two half equations
2 Multiply the equations so that the number of electrons in each is the same
3 Add the equations and cancel out the electrons on either side of the equation
4 If necessary, cancel out any other species which appear on both sides
Example
The reaction between manganate(VII) and iron(II).
Step 1
Fe2+
>
Fe3+ +
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Step 2
5Fe2+
Mn2+ + 4H2O
> 5Fe3+ + 5e
+
MnO4 + 5e + 8H
Step 3
Oxidation
>
Reduction
multiplied by 5
2+
Mn
+ 4H2O
multiplied by 1
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e
gives
Q.9
MnO4 + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ >
Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+
Construct balanced redox equations for the reactions between
a) Mg and H+
b) Cr2O72- and Fe2+
c) H2O2 and MnO4
d) C2O42- and MnO4
e) S2O32- and I2
f) Cr2O72- and I
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