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    Redox Reactions

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    Justin Menoras
    A redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, changing their oxidation states. It consists of two simultaneous reactions: reduction, where an atom gains electrons and becomes more negatively charged; and oxidation, where an atom loses electrons and becomes more positively charged. To balance a redox reaction equation, half-reactions for oxidation and reduction are written and multiplied by coefficients to balance atoms and electrons. The half-reactions are then added to cancel out electrons.

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    Redox Reactions

    Uploaded by

    Justin Menoras
    17 views24 pages
    A redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, changing their oxidation states. It consists of two simultaneous reactions: reduction, where an atom gains electrons and becomes more negatively charged; and oxidation, where an atom loses electrons and becomes more positively charged. To balance a redox reaction equation, half-reactions for oxidation and reduction are written and multiplied by coefficients to balance atoms and electrons. The half-reactions are then added to cancel out electrons.

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    A redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, changing their oxidation states. It consists of two simultaneous reactions: reduction, where an atom gains electrons and becomes more negatively charged; and oxidation, where an atom loses electrons and becomes more positively charged. To balance a redox reaction equation, half-reactions for oxidation and reduction are written and multiplied by coefficients to balance atoms and electrons. The half-reactions are then added to cancel out electrons.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    17 views24 pages

    Redox Reactions

    Uploaded by

    Justin Menoras
    A redox reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, changing their oxidation states. It consists of two simultaneous reactions: reduction, where an atom gains electrons and becomes more negatively charged; and oxidation, where an atom loses electrons and becomes more positively charged. To balance a redox reaction equation, half-reactions for oxidation and reduction are written and multiplied by coefficients to balance atoms and electrons. The half-reactions are then added to cancel out electrons.

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    Redox Reactions

    Redox Reactions
    • A redox reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a transfer of
    electrons from one substance to another causes a change in their
    oxidation states.

    • The term redox is used since the reaction is composed of two


    simultaneous chemical reactions - reduction and oxidation. In these
    two simultaneous reactions, we must remember that no reaction
    happens alone. (If reduction happens, oxidation should also happen)
    Reduction
    • This is a chemical reaction that involves the gaining of electrons by one of
    the atoms involved in the chemical reaction.
    • When the atom gains electrons, it becomes more negatively charged and
    a decrease in oxidation number is observed.
    • The substance which gained electrons has been reduced and the
    substance where the electron comes from is called the reducing agent.

    RDG
    (Reduction, Decrease in oxidation number, Gain of e-)
    Oxidation
    • This is a chemical reaction that involves the losing of electrons by one
    of the atoms involved in the chemical reaction.
    • When the atom loses electrons, it becomes more positively charged
    and an increase of oxidation number is observed.
    • The substance which lost electrons has been oxidized and the
    substance where the electron goes is the oxidizing agent.

    OIL
    (Oxidation, Increase in oxidation number, Loss of e-)
    • We can see in the figure on
    the right that particle A lost
    an electron to form A+.
    • The lost electron was gained
    by particle B to form B−.
    Notes to remember:
    • When particle A lost an electron, its oxidation number was increased
    to form the A+ ion.
    • When particle B gained an electron, its oxidation number was
    decreased to form the B− ion.

    1. Particle A was oxidized. It is the reducing agent causing particle B


    to undergo reduction.
    2. Particle B was reduced. It is the oxidizing agent causing particle A
    to undergo oxidation.
    Balancing Redox Reactions
    Law of Conservation of Mass

    The amount of each element must be the same


    on both sides of the equation
    Balancing Redox Reactions

    • In addition to the mentioned law, the gains and losses of electrons


    must also be balanced in redox equations.
    Half-equation Method

    • A half reaction shows the reactants, products and electrons transferred


    for either an oxidation or a reduction.
    Consider this equation:

    CuCl2(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+AlCl3(aq)

    • Oxidation numbers on reactants side: Cu = +2, Cl = -1, Al = 0


    • Oxidation numbers on products side: Cu = 0, Cl = -1, Al = +3
    • Cu2+ is reduced to Cu and Al is oxidized to as Al3+
    • Since CuCl2 and AlCl3 are dissociated into ions in solutions, we can
    rewrite the equation into:

    Cu2+(aq)+Cl−(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)+Cl−(aq)

    • The chloride ions, Cl−(aq), appear on both sides of the equation


    (without changes in their oxidation states). They are called spectator
    ions and can be omitted from the equation.
    • Therefore,

    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • At first look it might appear that the equation is already balanced but it is actually
    not because the total charge on the left is +2 and that on the right is +3, which
    violates the principle of the conservation of charge. So we have to do further work on
    this equation to balance both the atoms and the charges.
    Steps in Balancing Redox Equation

    1. Assign Oxidation numbers to each of the elements in the reaction.

    2. Write two unbalanced half-equations, one for the species that is


    oxidized and its product and one for the species that is reduced and its
    product.

    3. Balance the atoms of each element being oxidized or reduced.


    Steps in Balancing Redox Equation

    4. Multiply the oxidation number by the number of atoms that have that
    oxidation number. This is the total oxidation number or total charge.

    5. Balance the oxidation number by adding electrons on the more


    positive side of the half-equation.
    Note: For the oxidation half-equation, the electrons are always added on the products side of the
    equation since electrons are lost. For the reduction half-equation, the electrons are always added
    on the reactants side of the equation since electrons are gained.
    Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions

    6. Make the number of electrons on both half-equations equal by


    multiplying them with certain factors.

    7. Add the two half-equations in such as a way as to eliminate electrons.

    8. Check if the number of atoms of each element are equal on both side
    of the equation and the total charge on both sides are equal.
    Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in acidic solutions)

    1. Repeat Steps 1-5.

    2. Add H+ to balance the charges.

    3. Add water molecules to the side missing an Oxygen atom (if


    necessary)
    Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in acidic solutions)

    4. Make sure that the Oxygen atom is balanced.

    5. Continue steps 6-8 and subtract the same atoms found on both sides
    of the equation.
    Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in basic solutions)
    1. Do you what you did when you balance redox reactions in acidic solutions.

    2. Once you get the final equation, add the same number of OH- ions both sides of the
    equations.

    3. Add the H+ and OH- to create water molecules.

    4. Subtract the same elements found on both sides of the equation.

    5. Make sure that the atoms and the charges are balanced.
    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • Step 1:
    Oxidation number on the reactants’ side: Cu = +2; Al = 0
    Oxidation number on the products’ side: Cu = 0; Al = +3

    • Step 2
    Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
    Al(aq) → Al3+(aq)
    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • Step 3: Balance the atoms.


    (For this equation, all the atoms are already balanced)

    • Step 4: Multiply the charges with the number or atoms


    Reactants: Cu: 1 (+2) = 2; Al: 1 (0) = 0
    Products: Cu: 1 (0) = 0; Al: 1 (+3) = 3
    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • Step 5: Balance the charges.


    2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
    Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-

    • Step 6: Multiply the equations with certain numbers to balance out the
    electrons.
    (2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)) x 3
    (Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-) x 2
    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • Step 5: Balance the charges.


    2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
    Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-

    • Step 6: Multiply the equations with certain numbers to balance out the
    electrons.
    (2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)) x 3 = 6e- + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq)
    (Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-) x 2 = 2Al(aq) → 2Al3+(aq) + 6e-
    Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

    • Step 7: Add the equations to cancel the electrons


    6e- + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq)
    2Al(aq) → 2Al3+(aq) + 6e-

    • Step 8: Copy the remaining elements in the equation and double check
    if both atoms and charges are balanced.
    2Al(aq) + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq) + 2Al3+(aq)
    *atoms and charges are already balanced

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