Redox Reactions.

Reduction
Oxidation
 REDOX
Oxidation: Reduction:
•Gain of oxygen •Loss of oxygen
•Loss of electrons •Gain of electrons

Increase in Decrease in
oxidation oxidation
number number
 4 Experiments:
1. Burning magnesium
2. Copper in silver nitrate solution
3. Chlorine solution and potassium
iodide solution
4. Exploding hydrogen

•Word equation
•Balanced symbol equation
 Oxidised –
gains oxygen

2Mg(s) + O2(g)  2MgO(s)

Must be a redox!

Oxidised – loss of e- Mg  Mg2+ +2e-

Put the
e- in.
Reduced – gain of e- O +2e-  O2-
 Cu(s) + 2AgNO3(aq)  Cu(NO3 )2(aq) + 2Ag(s)

Complete
Oxidised?the
half-equations
Reduced?

Oxidised – loss of e- Cu  Cu2+ +2e-

Reduced – gain of e- Ag+ +e-  Ag

H2(g) + ½ O2(g)  H2O(g)

Covalent!

Need a new
definition.
No H+ or OH-
Oxidation: Reduction:
•Gain of oxygen •Loss of oxygen
•Loss of electrons •Gain of electrons

Increase in Decrease in
oxidation oxidation
number number
 Oxidation Numbers

• The oxidation number of an atom in an

element is zero.
E.g. Mg in Mg, O in O2.
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation F -1
numbers of atoms
in a compound add
up to zero. O -2
Oxidation state of
C in CO2? H +1
?–4=0 Put the +! Cl -1
? = +4
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation F -1
numbers of atoms
in a compound add
up to zero. O -2
Oxidation state of
Mg in MgCl2? H +1

Cl -1
+2
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation F -1
numbers of atoms
in a compound add
up to zero. O -2
Oxidation state of
N in NH3? H +1

Cl -1
-3
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation
numbers of atoms in F -1
an ion add up to the
charge on the ion.
O -2
Oxidation state of
S in SO42-? H +1
? – 8 = -2 Cl -1
? = +6
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation
numbers of atoms in F -1
an ion add up to the
charge on the ion.
O -2
Oxidation state of
S in S2-? H +1

Cl -1
-2
 Oxidation Numbers
• The oxidation
numbers of atoms in F -1
an ion add up to the
charge on the ion.
O -2
Oxidation state of
N in NH4+? H +1

Cl -1
-3
H2(g) + ½ O2(g)  H2O(g)

Covalent!

Need a new
definition.
No H+ or OH-
 GCSE
Oxidation: Reduction:
•Gain of oxygen •Loss of oxygen
•Loss of electrons •Gain of electrons

Increase in Decrease in
oxidation oxidation
number number
 H2(g) + ½ O2(g)  H2O(g)
H 0 +1
O 0 -2
Covalent!

Need a new
definition.
No H+ or OH-
 H2(g) + ½ O2(g)  H2O(g)
H 0 +1
O 0 -2
Oxidised? Reduced?

H – increase O – decrease
in oxidation in oxidation
number number
 Oxidation Numbers and names
• To avoid any confusion when an element can have
several oxidation numbers, the oxidation number is
usually mentioned in the compound’s name.
In names like “elementate(X)”, the number refers to
“element” and not the associated oxygens.
• So if we look at some examples , we get the following
names:-
KMnO4 potassium manganate(VII)
NaClO3 sodium chlorate(V)
Check the
POCl2F phosphorus(V) oxydichlorofluoride numbers.
NaH2PO3 sodium dihydrogenphosphate(III)
K2Cr2O7 potassium dichromate(VI)
Well done!