REDOX REACTION

By the end of the lesson, the students

should be able to
a. Define a redox reaction
b. State examples of redox reactions.
c. Identify oxidizing and reducing agents
in a redox reaction.
d. Write the ionic equations of redox
reactions.
Quick recap
 What is the oxidation number of Fe 2+
 What is the oxidation number of Fe 3+
 Calculate the oxidation number of C in
 CaCO3
 CO
 Mn In KMnO4
DEFINITION OF A REDOX
REACTION
 Reactions in which both oxidation and reduction
reactions take place at the same time.
OXIDATION : It is a reaction that involves
- Addition of oxygen
- Loss of electrons
- Loss of hydrogen
- Increase in oxidation state number
REDUCTION : It is reaction that involves
 - Removal of oxygen
- Gain of electrons
- Gain in hydrogen
- Decrease in oxidation state number
Redox reaction in terms of
addition and removal of oxygen
 The term oxidation was originally used
to describe reactions in which oxygen
combines with an element or
compound.

 While reduction is a reaction in which

oxygen is removed from an element or
compound
Example of oxidation
reaction
 The reaction between magnesium
metal and oxygen to form magnesium
oxide involves the oxidation of
magnesium.

 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO (s) (oxidation)

Example of reduction
reaction
 The reaction between magnesium
oxide and carbon at 2000C to form
magnesium metal and carbon
monoxide is an example of the
reduction of magnesium oxide to
magnesium metal.

 MgO(s) + C(s)  Mg(s) + CO(g)

(reduction)
Addition of oxygen and
removal of hydrogen

CuO + H2  Cu + H2O
Removal of hydrogen and
addition of hydrogen

H2S + Cl2  2HCl + S

Redox reaction
An oxidation-reduction reaction

• provides us with energy from food.

• provides electrical energy in batteries.
• occurs when iron rusts.

4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) 2Fe2O3(s)

Example of redox reaction

2H2O + 2F2  4HF + O2

Oxidizing Agent - It is a substance that is reduced in a chemical

reaction; thereby bringing oxidation. It therefore accepts electrons

Reducing Agent - It is a substance that is oxidized in a chemical

reaction; thereby bringing oxidation.It is the one that donates
electrons.
Illustration
An oxidation-reduction reaction
• transfers electrons from one reactant to
another.
• loses electrons in oxidation. (LEO)
Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e- (loss of
electrons)
• gains electrons in reduction. (GER)
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s) (gain of
electrons)
Loss and gain of electrons
NOTE

Zn(s) Zn2+(aq) + 2e- oxidation

Silvery metal

Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s) reduction

Blue
Learning check
Identify each of the following as
1) oxidation or 2) reduction.

__A. Sn(s) → Sn4+(aq) + 4e−

__B. Fe3+(aq) + e− → Fe2+(aq)
__C. Cl2(g) + 2e− → 2Cl-(aq)
Determining redox
reaction
Write the separate oxidation and reduction
reactions for the following equation.

2Cs(s) + F2(g) → 2CsF(s)

A cesium atom loses an electron to form

cesium ion.
Cs(s) → Cs+(s) + 1e− oxidation

Fluorine atoms gain electrons to form fluoride

ions.
F2(s) + 2e- → 2F−(s) reduction
Learning check
In light-sensitive sunglasses, UV light
initiates
an oxidation-reduction reaction.

uv light
2Ag+ + 2Cl− → 2Ag + Cl2

A. Which reactant is oxidized?

B. Which reactant is reduced?

Learning check
Identify the substances that are oxidized and
reduced in
each of the following reactions:
Also state the oxidizing and reducing agents.

A. Mg(s) + 2H+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)

B. 2Al(s) + 3Br2(g) → 2AlBr3(s)

Solution
A. Mg is oxidized Mg(s)
→ Mg2+(aq) + 2e−
H+ is reduced 2H+ + 2e− → H2

B. Al is oxidized Al → Al3+ + 3e−

Br is reduced Br + e− → Br −
Other examples
-2 0 -1 0
H2S + Br2 ---> 2HBr + S
R.A O.A

0 0 +2 -1

Ca + Cl2 ---> CaCl2

R.A O.A

0 +1 +2.7 0
3Fe + 4H20 ---> Fe3O4 + 4H2
H2S = 0
+1 X 2 + S = 0
+2 + S = O
S = -2
CO3 = -2
C + (-2 X3) = -2
C + - 6 = -2
C -6 = -2
C = -2 +6
C = +4
Rules for assigning oxidation
number
1. All free, uncombined elements have an oxidation
number of zero. This includes diatomic elements
such as O2 or others like P4 and S8.
2. Hydrogen, in all its compounds except hydrides,
has an oxidation number of +1 (positive one)
3. Oxygen, in all its compounds except peroxides, has
an oxidation number of -2 (negative two).
4. Sun of the oxidation number in a compound = 0
5. Sum of the oxidation number of a radical is the
charge on it,
Practice problem
• What is the oxidation number of . . .
• 1) N in NO3¯
• 2) C in CO32¯
• 3) Cr in CrO42¯
• 4) Cr in Cr2O72¯
• 5) Fe in Fe2O3
• 6) Pb in PbOH+
• 7) V in VO2+
• 8) V in VO2+
• 9) Mn in MnO4¯
• 10) Mn in MnO42¯
Activity
 Break these redox reaction into two, one for
oxidation and one for reduction
 Cu (s) +2Ag + (aq) → Cu 2+ + 2Ag
(s)
 Cl2 (g) + 2I- →2Cl- + I2
 2Al(s) + 3Pb2+→2Al 3+
+3Pb
 2Fe2+ + Cl2 → 2Fe3+ + 2Cl-
Half reaction
 A half-reaction is simply one which shows
either reduction OR oxidation, but not both.
Here is an example redox reaction:
 Ag+ + Cu ---> Ag + Cu2+
 It has BOTH a reduction and an oxidation in

it. That is why we call it a redox reaction,

from REDuction and OXidation.
Half reaction
• What you must be able to do is look at a redox
reaction and separate out the two half-reactions in it.
To do that, identify the atoms which get reduced and
get oxidized. Here are the two half-reactions from
the example:
Ag+ ---> Ag
Cu ---> Cu2+
• The silver is being reduced, its oxidation number
going from +1 to zero. The copper's oxidation
number went from zero to +2, so it was oxidized in
the reaction. In order to figure out the half-reactions,
you MUST be able to calculate the oxidation number
of an atom.
Half reaction
• When you look at the two half-reactions, you will see they
are already balanced for atoms with one Ag on each side
and one Cu on each side. So, all we need to do is balance
the charge.
• To do this you add electrons to the more positive side. You
add enough to make the total charge on each side become
EQUAL.
• To the silver half-reaction, we add one electron:
Ag+ + e¯ ---> Ag x 2 ( reduction)
• To the copper half-reaction, we add two electrons:
Cu ---> Cu2+ + 2e¯ x1 (oxidation)
2Ag + 2e- ---> 2Ag
Cu + 2Ag ---> Cu2+ + 2Ag ( overall
equation)
Half reactions never occur
alone

 notice that each half-reaction wound up

with a total charge of zero on each side.
This is not always the case. You need to
strive to get the total charge on each side
EQUAL, not zero.
Half reaction practice
problem
• Balance each half-reaction for atoms and
charge:
• 1) Cl2 ---> 2Cl¯

• 2) Sn ---> Sn2+
•

• 3) Fe2+ ---> Fe3+

• 4) I2 ---> 2I¯
•
Answers
• 1) Cl2 + 2e¯ ---> 2Cl¯
• 2) Sn ---> Sn2+ + 2e¯
• 3) Fe2+ ---> Fe3+ + e¯
• 4) I2 + 2e¯ ---> 2I¯
PRINCIPLES OF BALANCING REDOX EQUATIONS

 1.Write the half equations for oxidation and

reduction
 2. Balance the atoms and charges for each
equation with electrons, H+, OH- or H2O on
the appropriate side.
 3. Ensure that the electron loss in oxidation
half equation is balanced with reduction half
equation
 4.Combine the half equations to eliminate the
electrons
.
 Break these redox reaction into two, one for
oxidation and one for reduction
 Cu (s) +2Ag + (aq) → Cu 2+ + 2Ag
(s)
 Cl2 (g) + 2I- →2Cl- + I2
 2Al(s) + 3Pb2+→2Al 3+
+3Pb
 2Fe2+ + Cl2 → 2Fe3+ + 2Cl-
Balancing half reactions in
acidic medium (H2O, H+ and e- )
 Steps
1. Balance the atom being reduced/oxidized
2. Balance the oxygen using water molecules
3. Balance the other side with hydrogen ions
4. Balance the total charge
Balancing half reactions in
acidic medium (H2O, H+ and e- )
1. Balance the atom being reduced/oxidized.
In our example, there is already one Mn on each
side of the arrow, so this step is already done.
MnO4¯ ---> Mn2+
Cr2O72¯ ---> Cr3+

2. Balance the oxygens. Do this by adding water

molecules (as many as are needed) to the side
needing oxygen. In our case, the left side has 4
oxygens, while the right side has none, so:
MnO4¯ ---> Mn2+ + 4H2O
.
 Balance the hydrogens. Do this by
adding hydrogen ions (as many as are
needed) to the side needing hydrogen. In
our example, we need 8 (notice the water
molecule's formula, then consider 4 x 2 =
8).
8H+ + MnO4¯ ---> Mn2+ + 4H2O
 Balance the total charge. This will be
done using electrons. It is ALWAYS the last
step.
5e¯ + 8H+ + MnO4¯ ---> Mn2+ + 4H2O
Example 1
1. Balance the half equation in acidic
medium.
Cr2O72¯ ---> Cr3+
Exercise
Balance this in acidic medium
SO2 ---> SO42¯
Practice problem
• 1) Re ---> ReO2
• 2) Cl2 ---> HClO
• 3) NO3¯ ---> HNO2
• 4) H2GeO3 ---> Ge
• 5) H2SeO3 ---> SeO42¯
• 6) H3AsO4 ---> AsH3
• 7) H2MoO4 ---> Mo
• 8) NO ---> NO3¯
• 9) H2O2 ---> H2O
Answers
1. 2H2O + Re ---> ReO2 + 4H+ + 4e¯
2. 2H2O + Cl2 ---> 2HClO + 2H+ + 2e¯
3. 2e¯ + 3H+ + NO3¯ ---> HNO2 + H2O
4. 4e¯ + 4H+ + H2GeO3 ---> Ge + 3H2O
5. H2O + H2SeO3 ---> SeO42¯ + 4H+ + 2e¯
6. 8e¯ + 8H+ + H3AsO4 ---> AsH3 + 4H2O
7. 6e¯ + 6H+ + H2MoO4 ---> Mo + 4H2O
8. 2H2O + NO ---> NO3¯ + 4H+ + 3e¯
9. 2e¯ + 2H+ + H2O2 ---> 2 H2O
Balancing Half-Reactions in
Basic Solution
 Learning objectives:
 Balance the half reactions in acidic medium
 Convert hydrogen ions to water molecules
 Balance hydroxyl ions in half reactions
 Balance the charges in half reactions
Rules for balancing half
reactions in basic medium
 Balance deficient oxygen atoms with water
molecules
 Balance with Hydrogen ion
 Replace hydrogen ion with water and

balance with OH-

 Remove the duplicate compounds and

balance the electrons

Example
 Balance MnO4¯ ---> MnO2 in basic medium.
 MnO4¯ ---> MnO2
• Step One: Balance the half-reaction as if it
were in acid solution.
• 4H+ + MnO4¯ ---> MnO2 + 2H2O
• Step Two: Convert all H+ to H2O and balance
with OH-
• 4H2O + MnO4¯ ---> MnO2 + 2H2O + 4OH¯
• Step Three: Remove any duplicate molecules
and balance the charge.
• 3e¯ + 2H2O + MnO4¯ ---> MnO2 + 4OH¯
Activity 1
Balance the following in basic medium
• 1)Re ---> ReO2

• 2) Cl2 ---> HClO

• 3) NO3¯ ---> HNO2
• 4) H2GeO3 ---> Ge