Redox Reactions

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Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are among the most common and important chemical reactions. Rusting is an example of a redox
reaction. Even energy production in your bodies is a redox reaction. Hence, the study of redox reactions is both
important, and relevant to our daily lives. The term redox is an abbreviation for the processes of reduction and
oxidation, which occur simultaneously.

Learning Outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Explain the term redox reaction.

List examples of redox reactions.
Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen/ hydrogen gain/ loss, electron transfer and changes in oxidation
state.
Identify various kinds of redox reactions in terms of gain/ loss of oxygen/ hydrogen, electron transfer and change in
oxidation state.
Describe the use of aqueous potassium iodide and acidified potassium manganate(VII) in testing for oxidising and
reducing agents from the resulting colour changes.

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Redox Reactions

1.

What is a Redox Reaction?

2.

The term redox is an abbreviation for the processes of reduction and oxidation, which
occur simultaneously.

In a redox reaction, one species is oxidised while another species is always reduced.

Definitions of Oxidation and Reduction

There are several ways of describing oxidation and reduction and it is summarised below.

1. Gain or loss of oxygen atom(s)

Oxidation and
reduction can
be defined by
the following
ways

2. Loss or gain of hydrogen atom(s)

3. Loss or gain of electron(s)

4. Increase or decrease in oxidation

2.1

Oxidation and Reduction as Gain or Loss of Oxygen Atom(s) Respectively

A substance is oxidised when it gains oxygen atom(s) in a reaction.

A substance is reduced when it loses oxygen atom(s) in a reaction.

Example 1: Copper(II) oxide heated with carbon

carbon atom gains oxygen atom forming carbon monoxide

C(s)

CuO(s)

CO(g)

Cu(s)

copper(II) oxide loses oxygen atom forming copper

Copper(II) oxide, CuO(s), is reduced because it loses an oxygen atom to form copper
metal, Cu(s).

Carbon, C(s), is oxidised because it gains an oxygen atom to form carbon monoxide,
CO(g).

Both reduction and oxidation takes place at the same time. This reaction is a redox
reaction.

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Redox Reactions

2.2

Oxidation and Reduction as Loss or Gain of Hydrogen Atom(s) Respectively

A substance is oxidised when it loses hydrogen atom(s) in a reaction.

A substance is reduced when it gains hydrogen atom(s) in a reaction.

Example 2: Reacting hydrogen sulfide with chlorine

hydrogen sulfide molecule loses
hydrogen atoms forming sulfur atom

H2S(g)

Cl2(g)

S(s)

2HCl(g)

chlorine molecules gains hydrogen atoms

forming hydrogen chloride molecules

2.3

Chlorine molecule, Cl2(g), is reduced because it gains two hydrogen atoms to form
two molecules of hydrogen chloride, HCl(g).

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S(g), is oxidised because it loses two hydrogen atoms to form
sulfur, S(s).

Both reduction and oxidation takes place at the same time. This reaction is a redox
reaction.

Oxidation and Reduction as Loss or Gain of Electrons Respectively

A substance is oxidised when it loses electron(s) in a reaction.

A substance is reduced when it gains electron(s) in a reaction.

Example 3: Reacting magnesium with a solution containing copper(II) ions

magnesium atom loses 2 electrons forming magnesium ion

Mg(s)

Cu2+(aq)

Mg2+(aq)

Cu(s)

copper(II) ion gains 2 electrons forming copper atom

Copper(II) ion, Cu2+(aq), is reduced because a copper(II) ion gains two electrons to
form copper metal, Cu(s).

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Redox Reactions

2.4

Magnesium metal, Mg(s), is oxidised because a magnesium atom, Mg(s), loses two
electrons to form a magnesium ion, Mg2+(aq).

Both reduction and oxidation takes place at the same time. This reaction is a redox
reaction.

Oxidation and Reduction as an Increase or a Decrease in Oxidation Number

A substance is oxidised when the oxidation number of an element in the substance

increases after the reaction.

A substance is reduced when the oxidation number of an element in the substance

decreases after the reaction.

Example 4: Reacting zinc with a solution containing copper(II) ions

Oxidation number of Zn increases from 0 to +2

Zn(s)
oxidation
number = 0

Cu2+(aq)

Zn2+(aq)
oxidation
number = +2

oxidation
number = +2

Cu(s)
oxidation
number = 0

Oxidation number of copper decreases from +2 to 0

2.4.1

Cu2+(aq), is reduced because the oxidation number of copper decreases from +2 in

Cu2+(aq) to zero in Cu(s).

Zinc metal, Zn(s), is oxidised because the oxidation number of zinc increases from zero
in Zn(s) to +2 in Zn2+(aq).

Both reduction and oxidation takes place at the same time. This reaction is a redox
reaction.

What is Oxidation Number?

Oxidation number is the charge an atom of an element would have if it exists as a simple
ion in a compound, even if it is actually covalently bonded. Sometimes, it is known as
oxidation state

2.4.2

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Number (or Oxidation State)

(1)

The oxidation number in an element is zero.

Element
Copper
Chlorine

(2)

Chemical Formula
Cu
Cl2

Oxidation Number of Element in Substance

Oxidation number of copper in Cu = 0
Oxidation number of chlorine in Cl2= 0.

The oxidation number in simple ions is the same as the charge on the ion.
4

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Redox Reactions

Simple Ions
Potassium
Copper
Aluminium
Chloride
Sulfide
Nitride
(3)

Chemical Formula
K+
Cu2+
Al3+
ClS2N3-

The oxidation number of hydrogen with non-metals is +1.

The oxidation number of hydrogen with metals is -1.
The oxidation number of hydrogen in hydrogen molecule is zero - apply rule (1).
Substance
Ammonia
Sodium hydride
Hydrogen

(4)

Chemical Formula
NH3
NaH
H2

Oxidation number of element in substance

Oxidation number of hydrogen in NH3 = +1
Oxidation number of hydrogen in NaH = -1
Oxidation number of hydrogen in H2 = 0

The oxidation number of oxygen as an oxide = -2.

The oxidation number of oxygen as a peroxide = -1.
The oxidation number of oxygen as a superoxide = -.
The oxidation number of oxygen as an element is zero - apply rule (1).

Substance
Sodium oxide
Hydrogen peroxide
Potassium superoxide
Oxygen
(5)

Oxidation Number of Element in Substance

Oxidation number of potassium in K+ = +1
Oxidation number of copper in Cu2+ = +2
Oxidation number of aluminium in Al3+ = +3
Oxidation number of chlorine in Cl- = -1
Oxidation number of sulfur in S2- = -2
Oxidation number of nitrogen in N3- = -3

Chemical Formula
Na2O
H2O2
KO2
O2

Oxidation number of element in substance

Oxidation number of oxygen in Na2O = -2
Oxidation number of oxygen in H2O2 = -1
Oxidation number of oxygen in H2O2 = -
Oxidation number of oxygen in O2 = 0

The oxidation numbers of the atoms present in a formula of a compound add up to zero.

Checkpoint 1
Find the oxidation number of carbon in calcium carbonate
Using rule 1 & 4,
Oxidation number of Ca in CaCO3 = +2
Oxidation number of O in CaCO3 = -2
Since we do not know the oxidation of carbon, let oxidation number of C in CaCO3 = n
Using rule 5, [+2 + n + (3 x -2)] = 0, n = +4
Therefore, oxidation number of C in CaCO3 = +4

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Redox Reactions

(6)

The total of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in a polyatomic ion is equal to the charge on
the ion.

Checkpoint 2
Find the oxidation number of carbon in carbonate ion
Using rule 4,
Oxidation number of O in CO32- = -2
Since we do not know the oxidation of carbon, let oxidation number of C in CO32- = n
Using rule 6, [n + (3 x -2)] = -2, n = +4
Therefore, oxidation number of C in CO32- = +4

(7)

(8)

In any substance containing two different elements, the more electronegative element has
the negative oxidation state, the less electronegative atom has the positive oxidation state.
Substance

Chemical
Formula

Oxidation number of element in substance

Sodium

Na

A solution containing
copper(II) ion

Cu2+

Sodium
0
Copper
+2

Sodium chloride

NaCl

Ammonia

NH3

Magnesium oxide

MgO

Hydrogen peroxide

H2O2

Calcium carbonate

CaCO3

Sodium
+1
Nitrogen
-3
Magnesium
+2
Hydrogen
+1
Calcium
+2

Most elements have just one oxidation state. Transition metals and some other elements
have variable oxidation states.
6

Carbon
+4

Chlorine
-1
Hydrogen
+1
Oxygen
-2
Oxygen
-1
Oxygen
-2

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Redox Reactions

Oxidation
State
Manganese
Chromium
Iron
Sulfur
Carbon

(9)

-2

FeS

-1

+1

Mn
Cr
Fe
S
C

+2

+3

+4

MnCl2
CrCl2
FeCl2

CrCl3
FeCl3

+5

+6

MnO2

CO

+7
KMnO4

K2Cr2O7
SO2
CaCO3

H2SO4

We include Roman numerals for compounds containing elements with variable oxidation
states.
Name of Compound

Formula

Roman Numeral
in Name

copper(I) oxide

Cu2O

copper(II) oxide

CuO

II

copper(II) sulfate

CuSO4

II

potassium manganate(VII)

KMnO4

VII

potassium dichromate(VI)

K2Cr2O7

VI

Oxidation State
The copper atom has an oxidation
state of +1.
The copper atom has an oxidation
state of +2.
The copper atom has an oxidation
state of +2.
The manganese atom has an
oxidation state of +7.
The chromium atoms have an
oxidation state of +6.

Checkpoint 3
7

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Redox Reactions

1. Calculate the oxidation number of the element manganese, Mn, in the following compounds.
(a)
MnO2
Let x be the oxidation number of Mn in MnO2.
x + 2(-2) = 0 {apply rule 4 & 5}
x = +4
(b)

MnSO4

(c)

KMnO4

(d)

K2MnO4

2. Calculate the oxidation number of the element chromium, Cr, in the following compounds.
(a)
CrSO4

3.

(b)

CrCl3

(c)

Cr2O3

(d)

K2Cr2O7

Balancing Redox Equations

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Redox Reactions

To balance a chemical equation involving charges, both the number of atoms and charges
on left-hand side and right-hand side of the equation must equal.
Checkpoint 4
(a)

Cu(s)

(b)

Al(s)

(c)

Cl2(g)

4.
4.1

Ag+(aq)

Cu2+(aq)

Ag(s)

Pb2+(aq)

Al3+(aq)

Pb(s)

Cl-(aq)

I2(s)

I-(aq)

Oxidising and Reducing Agents

Oxidising Agents

Substances that cause oxidation of (oxidised) another substance in a reaction is called

an oxidising agent.

Oxidising agents therefore can change another substance in any of the following ways:
add oxygen to another substance (donate oxygen: oxygen donor)
remove hydrogen from another substance (removal of hydrogen: hydrogen
acceptor)
remove electrons from another substance (removal of electron: electron acceptor)
increase the oxidation number of another substance

Examples of oxidising agents include:

Reagent

Formula

metal ions low in the

reactivity series

e.g., Ag+

chlorine gas
aqueous iron(III)
chloride
concentrated
sulfuric acid
concentrated nitric
acid

4.2

Change
Ag+(aq) Ag(s)
colourless ion
grey / silver solid
Cl2(g)
2Cl-(aq)
greenish-yellow gas
colourless ion
3+
Fe (aq) Fe2+(aq)
pale yellow
pale green
H2SO4(l) SO2(g)
colourless liquid colourless pungent gas

Cl2
FeCl3
H2SO4

HNO3(l) NO2 (g)

colourless liquid
brown pungent gas

HNO3

Reducing Agents

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Redox Reactions

Substances that cause reduction of (reduced) another substance in a reaction is called a

reducing agent.

Reducing agents therefore can change another substance in any of the following ways:
remove oxygen from another substance (removal of oxygen: oxygen acceptor)
add hydrogen to another substance (donate hydrogen: hydrogen donor)
add electrons to another substance (donate electron: electron donor)
decrease the oxidation number of another substance

Examples of reducing agents include:

Reagent

Formula

metals high in the reactivity

series
carbon
carbon monoxide
Hydrogen
hydrogen sulfide
sulfur dioxide

Change

e.g., Na

Na Na+

C
CO
H2
H2S
SO2

C(s) CO2(g) or CO(g)

CO(g) CO2(g)
H2(g) H2O(l)
H2S(g) S(s)
SO2(g) SO3(g) or SO42-(aq)

Lets re-look at the reaction between copper(II) oxide and carbon in Example 1.

carbon atom gains oxygen atom forming carbon monoxide

C(s)

CuO(s)

CO(g)

Cu(s)

copper(II) oxide loses oxygen atom forming copper

In the reaction above,

Carbon, C(s), is a reducing agent because it removes oxygen atom from copper(II)
oxide, CuO(s), and hence is an oxygen acceptor.
Copper(II) oxide, CuO(s), is an oxidising agent because it adds oxygen atom to
carbon, C(s), and hence is an oxygen donor.

4.3

Test for Reducing Agents

10

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Redox Reactions

Reagent

Observation

Explanation

aqueous potassium
manganate(VII),
KMnO4, acidified by
dilute H2SO4

Acidified aqueous KMnO4 turned

from purple to colourless.

MnO4- reduced to Mn2+ as the

oxidation number of Mn decreases
from +7 in MnO4- to +2 in Mn2+.
Colour of MnO4-(aq) is purple
Colour of Mn2+(aq) is pale pink
(almost colourless)

aqueous potassium
dichromate(VI),
K2Cr2O7, acidified by
dilute H2SO4

Acidified aqueous K2Cr2O7 turned

from orange to green.

Cr2O72- is reduced to Cr3+ as the

oxidation number of Cr decreases
from +6 in Cr2O72- to +3 in Cr3+.
Colour of Cr2O72-(aq) is orange
Colour of Cr3+(aq) is green

Procedure: Testing for presence of reducing agent using acidified aqueous KMnO4.

4.4

Acidified aqueous KMnO4 is prepared by adding excess dilute sulfuric acid to

aqueous potassium manganate(VII).

Add acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) to a portion of the unknown

substance.

If the acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) turned from purple to

colourless, the unknown substance is an reducing agent.

Testing for presence of reducing agent, acidified aqueous potassium dichromate(VI)

can also be used in a similar way as acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII).
The colour change is from orange to green.

Test for Oxidising Agents

Reagent

Observation

aqueous KI, dilute

H2SO4

Explanation

Acidified aqueous. KI turned from

colourless to reddish brown solution
seen.

I is oxidised to I2 as the oxidation

number of I increases from 1 in I
to 0 in I2.

[Note: May observe black solid at the

bottom of the test-tube if the amount
of iodine present is higher.]

Procedure: Testing for presence of oxidising agent using acidified aqueous KI.

Acidified aqueous potassium iodide is prepared by adding excess dilute sulfuric

acid to aqueous potassium iodide.

Add acidified aqueous potassium iodide to a portion of the unknown substance.

If acidified aqueous potassium iodide turned from colourless to reddish-brown,

the unknown substance is an oxidising agent.
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Redox Reactions

5.
5.1

Non-Redox Reactions
Precipitation Reactions
Example 1: Precipitation of silver chloride
Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) AgCl(s)
Example 2: Precipitation of insoluble hydroxides
Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) Zn(OH)2(s)
The oxidation number of each element is unchanged. Therefore, this is not a redox
reaction.

5.2.

Neutralisation Reactions
Example 3: Reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid:
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
The oxidation number of each element is unchanged. Therefore, this is not a redox
reaction.

12

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