Acids and Bases
Equilibria
Equilibrium Constants
Free-Energy & Entropy
Enthalpy
Further Enthalpy
Hess's Law
Kinetics
Rate of Reaction
Redox Equilibria
Redox Reactions

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Physical

Redox Reactions

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation is the loss of electrons or loss of hydrogen and addition of oxygen.

Reduction is the gain of electrons or gain of hydrogen and loss of oxygen.

Redox refers to a reaction where both of these happens. Remember it with OIL RIG (Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain)

Oxidation States

The oxidation state of simple ions is simply its charge. For example, the oxidation state of Mg2+ is +2. However, we also assign oxidation states to other compounds and is the charge it would have if it were a simple ion and not bonded. In order to work out the oxidation states of some compounds we need to use some rules.

Oxidation state of an atom in element is 0Br in Br2 is 0
The oxidation state of Fluorine is always -1; O is nearly always -2 and Cl is usually -1.no example.
The sum of the oxidation states in a polyatomic ions is always the charge on the ion.In PO43- the Oxygens make -8 so P should be +8 - 3 (the overall charge) meaning its oxidation state here is +5.

The oxidation gives a compound its name, for example Iron (IV) oxide means the oxidation state of iron is 4 so therefore there must be two oxygen atoms bonded to it.

S-block metals loose their electrons in a reaction so are good reductants (they are oxidised easily).

And then there are p-block elements which can have different oxidation states; and those in group VII gain electrons in reactions so are good oxidants (they gain electrons easily).

Redox Equations

Have a look at the reaction below.

Fe2O3 + 2Al ® Al2O3 + 2Fe

In this reaction iron is reduced (is an oxidant) because it gains electrons and goes from ion to element, and the reverse is true for aluminium which is oxidised (is a reductant). To show this we use half equations as below.

Fe3+ + 3e- ® Fe
Al ® Al3+ + 3e-

Another skill you need is to combine half equations. Use the following example where concentrated nitric acid is added to copper. To do this you simply need to have the same number of electrons in each equation and then add combine, the same electrons means they will cancel.

Remember that in acid, you can balance with H+ ions as well.