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Redox reactions

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Siyavula textbooks: Grade 11 Physical Science


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Redox reactions
Module by : Free High School Science Tex ts Project.

Redox reactions
A second ty pe of reaction is the redox reaction, in which both ox idation and reduction take place.

Oxidation and reduction


If y ou look back to chapter (Reference) () , y ou will remember that we discussed how, during a chemical reaction, an ex change of electrons takes place between the elements that are inv olv ed. Using oxidation numbers is one way of tracking what is happening to these electrons in a reaction. Refer back to (Reference) () if y ou can't remember the rules that are used to giv e an ox idation number to an element. Below are some ex amples to refresh y our memory before we carry on with this section! Examples: 1 . CO 2 Each ox y gen atom has an ox idation number of -2. This means that the charge on tw o ox y gen atoms is -4. We know that the molecule of CO2 is neutral, therefore the carbon atom must hav e an ox idation number of +4. 2. KMnO 4 Ov erall, this molecule has a neutral charge, meaning that the sum of the ox idation numbers of the elements in the molecule must equal zero. Potassium (K) has an ox idation number of +1 , while ox y gen (O) has an ox idation number of -2. If we ex clude the atom of manganese (Mn), then the sum of the ox idation numbers equals +1 +(-2x 4)= -7 . The atom of manganese must therefore hav e an ox idation number of +7 in order to make the molecule neutral. By looking at how the ox idation number of an element changes during a reaction, we can easily see whether that element is being ox idised or reduced.
DEFINITION 1: Ox idation and reduction
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Redox reactions

Ox idation is the loses of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion. Reduction is the gain of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion. Example:
Mg + Cl 2 MgCl 2

As a reactant , magnesium has an ox idation number of zero, but as part of the product magnesium chloride, the element has an ox idation number of +2. Magnesium has lost two electrons and has therefore been oxidised . This can be written as a half-reaction . The half-reaction for this change is:
Mg Mg
2+

+ 2e

As a reactant , chlorine has an ox idation number of zero, but as part of the product magnesium chloride, the element has an ox idation number of -1 . Each chlorine atom has gained an electron and the element has therefore been reduced . The half-reaction for this change is:
Cl 2 + 2e

2Cl

DEFINITION 2: Half-reaction

A half reaction is either the ox idation or reduction reaction part of a redox reaction. A half reaction is obtained by considering the change in ox idation states of the indiv idual substances that are inv olv ed in the redox reaction.

TIP:

Ox idation and reduction made easy ! An easy way to think about ox idation and reduction is to remember: 'OILRIG' - Ox idation I s L oss of electrons, Reduction I s G ain of electrons.

An element that is ox idised is called a reducing agent , while an element that is reduced is called an ox idising agent .

Redox reactions
DEFINITION 3: Redox reaction

A redox reaction is one inv olv ing ox idation and reduction, where there is alway s a change in the ox idation numbers of the elements inv olv ed.

Demonstration : Redox reactions


Materials:
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Redox reactions

A few granules of zinc; 1 5 ml copper (II) sulphate solution (blue colour), glass beaker.

Fi gu r e 1

Method: Add the zinc granules to the copper sulfate solution and observ e what happens. What happens to the zinc granules? What happens to the colour of the solution? Results: Zinc becomes cov ered in a lay er that looks like copper. The blue copper sulfate solution becomes clearer. Cu ions from the CuSO 4 solution are reduced to form copper metal. This is what y ou saw on the zinc cry stals. The reduction of the copper ions (in other words, their remov al from the copper sulphate solution), also ex plains the change in colour of the solution (copper ions in solution are blue). The equation for this reaction is:
Cu
2+ 2+

+ 2e

Cu
2+

Zinc is ox idised to form Zn reaction is:


Zn Zn
2+

ions which are clear in the solution. The equation for this

+ 2e

The ov erall reaction is:


Cu
2+

(aq) + Zn(s) Cu(s) + Zn

2+

(aq)

Conclusion: A redox reaction has taken place. Cu


2+

ions are reduced and the zinc is ox idised.

Below are some further ex amples of redox reactions:


H 2 + F 2 2HF can

(ox idation) and F 2

be re-written as two half-reactions: H 2 2e 2F (reduction)


2H

+ 2e

Cl 2 + 2KI 2KCl + I 2or Cl 2 + 2I

half-reactions: Cl 2 + 2e

2Cl

2 Cl

(reduction) and

2I

+ I2 ,

I 2 + 2e

can be written as two (ox idation)

In Grade 1 2, y ou will go on to look at electrochemical reactions, and the role that electron transfer play s in this ty pe of reaction. Khan academ y v ideo on ox idation states
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Redox reactions

Fi gu r e 2

Fi gu r e 3

Redox Reactions
1 . Look at the following reaction: 2H 2 O 2 (l)
2 H 2 O(l) + O 2 (g)

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Redox reactions

1 . What is the ox idation number of the ox y gen atom in each of the following compounds? 1 . H2 O 2 2. H 2 O 3. O2 2. Does the hy drogen perox ide (H 2 O 2 ) act as an ox idising agent or a reducing agent or both, in the abov e reaction? Giv e a reason for y our answer. 2. Consider the following chemical equations: 1 . Fe(s)
4H
+

Fe

2+

(aq) + 2e

2.

(aq) + O 2 (g) + 4e

2H 2 O(l) Which

one of the following

statements is correct? 1 . Fe is ox idised and H


+

is reduced

2. Fe is reduced and O2 is ox idised 3. Fe is ox idised and O2 is reduced 4. Fe is reduced and H


+

is ox idised

(DoE Grade 1 1 Paper 2, 2007 ) 3. Which one of the following reactions is a redox reaction? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Pr ev i ou s m odu l e
HCl + NaOH NaCl + H 2 O AgNO 3 + NaI AgI + NaNO
3

2FeCl 3 + 2H 2 O + SO 2 H 2 SO 4 + 2HCl + 2FeCl 2 BaCl 2 + MgSO 4 MgCl


2

+ BaSO 4

Col l ect i on h om e:

Next m odu l e

Acid-base reactions

Siy av ula tex tbooks: Grade 11 Phy sical Science

Addition, elim ination and substitution reactions

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