12-Oxidation Reduction Reaction

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
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Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Table of Contents
1.0 OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS .............................................................................................................................................................3

1.1 REDUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 OXIDATION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
2.0 REDUCTION-OXIDATION HALF REACTION .................................................................................................................................................3
2.1 WRITING A HALF REACTION ..........................................................................................................................................................................................3
3.0 OXIDATION NUMBER ......................................................................................................................................................................................................4
4.0 THE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL..................................................................................................................................................................................5
4.1 GALVANIC CELL (VOLTAIC) ............................................................................................................................................................................................5
4.2 ELECTROLYSIS .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
5.0 QUIZ ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions 2
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1.0 Oxidation Reduction Reactions
Oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions, occur as a result of electrons being transferred

between atoms or ions. Reduction and oxidation reactions are linked, in order for one to occur,
the other must take place. Therefore, if a chemical species is oxidized, an oxidizing agent must be
present. The oxidizing agent is simultaneously reduced as a result of oxidizing another chemical
species. In this way, redox reactions are defined by the donating of electrons being matched by
their acceptance.
1.1 Reduction
Reduction occurs when a chemical species (e.g. molecule, atom or ion) has a decrease in its
oxidation number. This usually occurs by the species gaining electrons.
Oxidant + e- Product Oxidant has been reduced.

(Gain of electrons/Oxidation number decreases)
1.2 Oxidation
Oxidation is, technically, the opposite of reduction. When a species is oxidized it is as a result of an
increase in oxidation state, which usually results from the loss of electrons.
Reductant Product + e- Reductant has been oxidized.

(Loss of electrons/Oxidation number Increases)
2.0 Reduction-Oxidation Half Reaction
Half reactions are an effective way of representing how electrons are transferred during a change
of oxidation number. Unlike standard chemical reactions, half reactions also include the movement
of electrons from one species to its resulting changed oxidation state.
2.1 Writing a Half Reaction

Half reactions are balanced separately and show the movement of electrons, along with the change
in oxidation state of the reacting species.
3 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
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Below is the reaction between Hydrogen gas and Fluorine gas. In this case, the hydrogen is being
oxidized and the fluorine is being reduced, e represents electrons participating in the reaction.
(1) H2 + F2 2 HF
Next, both species are then represented individually to show the oxidation reaction and the
reduction reaction separately.
(2) H2 2 H+ +2 e-
The oxidation reaction, where hydrogen donates its electron to form a hydrogen ion.
(3) F2 + 2 e- 2 F-
The reduction reaction, where fluorine gas receives electrons to form fluoride ions.
3.0 Oxidation Number
The oxidation number of an atom is the effective charge of that atom in a compound. It indicates
how easily an atom will be reduced or oxidized. There are, however, a few rules governing how
oxidation numbers are determined.
The oxidation number of an atom in its elemental form is zero. For group 1 metals, the state is
usually +1 and for group two metals the state is usually +2.
For ionic species, the oxidation number is equal to the charge of the ion.
Hydrogen (H+) the oxidation number is +1; however, there are exceptional cases where it is -1
(e.g. metal hydrides).
Oxygen (O2-) has an oxidation number of -2.
The half reaction only takes those species in a chemical equation that change oxidation number. In
the case of hydrogen, the initial oxidation number is zero. Nevertheless, hydrogen is oxidized to
H+, giving it an oxidation number of +1. Fluorine also has an initial oxidation number of zero, but
results in an oxidation number of -1 to form F-. As a result of the balancing of both oxidation and
reduction reactions, redox reactions have no net loss or gain of electrons.
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4.0 The Electrochemical Cell
The ease of oxidation between different species has been exploited for a number of reasons, the
most common of which is the electrochemical cell. An electrochemical cell is divided into two main
categories. The first being capable of deriving electrical energy from a chemical reaction (Voltaic
cell or Galvanic cell), and the second using electrical energy to facilitate a chemical reaction
(electrolysis).
4.1 Galvanic Cell (Voltaic)

The Galvanic cell is a device used to produce electrical energy by means of a chemical reaction. It
usually is a result of two half cells, each with a different metal (e.g. copper and zinc), in a solution of
a salt of the metals and connected by a salt bridge.
The diagram shows one type of Galvanic cell, where zinc metal is immersed in a solution of zinc
sulfate, while copper metal is immersed in a solution of copper sulfate. The cells are connected by
a salt bridge which allows for the completion of a circuit and hence the flow of electrons. The
connected cells will result in the flow of electrons from the zinc anode to the copper cathode.
Figure 4.1 Diagram showing the generation of electricity using a Zinc/Copper Galvanic (Voltaic)
cell.
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At the anode, oxidation will occur and electrons will be produced. At the cathode, reduction will
occur and electrons will be consumed.
4.2 Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a method of using electrical energy to drive a chemical reaction that otherwise would
not occur spontaneously. In this respect, electrolysis is the inverse of the Galvanic cell. Electrolysis is
utilized by industry for the separation of materials. One of the simplest forms of separation is the
electrolysis of water (H2O) to form H2 and O2. The chemical reaction occurring in the diagram
below can be represented by the following chemical equation.
2 H2O(l) O2(g) + 2H2(g)
The half reaction for reduction is: 2H2O(l) + 2e- 2H2(g) + 2 OH-
The half reaction for oxidation is: 2H2O(l) O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e-
Figure 4.2 Diagram showing the electrolysis of water to produce Hydrogen gas and Oxygen.
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5.0 Quiz
Fill in the blanks.
1. The reduction reaction of redox reaction involves the _________ of electrons, while the
oxidation reaction involves the _________ of electrons.
2. Half reactions equations, unlike regular chemical equations, focus on the movement of
__________ and change in __________ state.
3. What is the usual oxidation number of the group 1 metals? __________
4. The Galvanic cell is used to produce __________ energy from a __________ reaction.
5. The Galvanic cell utilizes a __________ in a solution of its salt to generate electricity.
6. The cathode of the Galvanic cell is __________ charged, while the anode is __________
charged.
7. Electrolysis is the use of __________ to drive a chemical.
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Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

1.0 OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS .............................................................................................................................................................3

Oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions, occur as a result of electrons being transferred

Oxidant + e- Product Oxidant has been reduced.

Reductant Product + e- Reductant has been oxidized.

2.0 Reduction-Oxidation Half Reaction

2.1 Writing a Half Reaction

3.0 Oxidation Number

4.1 Galvanic Cell (Voltaic)

Fill in the blanks.

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