Scribd
Upload
133 views

Oxidation Numbers

The document discusses oxidation numbers, which are used to determine if oxidation or reduction has occurred and balance redox equations. Oxidation numbers are assigned according to specific rules based on elements and ions. Redox reactions involve both oxidation and reduction halves that can be balanced and combined to give overall equations.

Uploaded by

Web Books
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
133 views

Oxidation Numbers

The document discusses oxidation numbers, which are used to determine if oxidation or reduction has occurred and balance redox equations. Oxidation numbers are assigned according to specific rules based on elements and ions. Redox reactions involve both oxidation and reduction halves that can be balanced and combined to give overall equations.

Uploaded by

Web Books
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

1

F321

Oxidation and Reduction

OXIDATION NUMBERS
Used to

tell if oxidation or reduction has taken place


work out what has been oxidised and/or reduced
construct half equations and balance redox equations

The number of electrons which must be

Atoms and
simple ions

added or removed to become neutral

atoms

Na in Na =

cations

Na in Na+ = +1

need to add 1 electron to make Na+ neutral

anions

Cl in Cl

need to take 1 electron away to make Cl neutral

Q.1

Molecules

= 1

neutral already ... no need to add any electrons

What is the oxidation state of the elements in ?


a) N

b) Fe3+

c) S2-

d) Cu

e) Cu2+

f) Cu+

The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to zero

Elements

H in H2

= 0

Compounds

C in CO2

= +4

and

O = -2

+4

and

2(-2) = 0

CO2 is neutral, so the sum of the oxidation numbers must be zero


one element must have a positive ON, the other must be negative
the more electronegative species will have the negative value
electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group
O is further to the right in the periodic table so it has the negative value (-2)
C is to the left so it has the positive value (+4)
one needs two Os at -2 each to balance one C at +4

Q.2

If the oxidation number of O is -2, state the oxidation number of the other element in...
a) SO2

b) SO3

(c) NO

d) NO2

e) N2O

f) MnO2

g) P4O10

h) Cl2O7

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

F321

The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to the charge on the ion

Complex
ions

in SO42-

Example

Oxidation and Reduction

S = +6 , O = -2 [ i.e. +6 + 4(-2) = -2 ]

the ion has a 2- charge

What is the oxidation number (O.N.) of Mn in MnO4 ?

the O.N. of oxygen in most compounds is -2


there are 4 Os so the sum of the O.N.s = -8
the overall charge on the ion is -1, sum of all the O.N.s must add up to -1
the O.S. of Mn plus the sum of the O.N.s of the four Os must equal -1
therefore the O.N. of Manganese in MnO4 = +7

WHICH OXIDATION NUMBER ?


elements can exist in more than one oxidation state
certain elements can be used as benchmarks

Metals

HYDROGEN (+1)

except

0
-1

atom (H) and molecule (H2)


hydride ion, H [in sodium hydride, NaH]

OXYGEN

(-2)

except

0
-1
+2

atom (O) and molecule (O2)


in hydrogen peroxide, H2O2
in F2O

FLUORINE (-1)

except

atom (F) and molecule (F2)

have positive values in compounds


value is usually that of the Group Number

Al is +3

values can go no higher than the Group No.

Mn can be +2,+4,+6,+7

Non metals mostly negative based on their usual ion


can have values up to their Group No.

Cl is usually -1
Cl can be +1, +3, +5, +7

to avoid ambiguity, the oxidation number is often included in the name


e.g.

manganese(IV) oxide shows Mn is in the +4 oxidation state in MnO2


sulphur(VI) oxide for SO3
dichromate(VI) for Cr2O72phosphorus(V) chloride for PCl5.

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

Q.3

F321

Oxidation and Reduction

What is the theoretical maximum oxidation state of the following elements ?


Na

Ba

Pb

Mn

Cr

State the most common and the maximum oxidation number in compounds of...
Li

Br

Sr

COMMON
MAXIMUM

Q.4

Give the oxidation number of the element other than O, H or F in


SO2

NH3

NO2

NH4+

IF7

Cl2O7

MnO42-

NO3

NO2

SO32-

S2O32-

S4O62-

What is odd about the value of the oxidation state of S in S4O62- ?


Can it have such a value ? Can you provide a suitable explanation ?

Q.5

What is the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds ?


CH4

C=

PCl3

H=

CS2

C=

Mg =

ICl5

H=

I=

H3PO4

MgCO3

H=

N=
Cl =

BrF3

Cl =

Cl =

H2SO4

NCl3

Cl =

S=

MgCl2

P=

Br =
F=

NH4Cl

N=

P=

H=

O=

Cl =

Mg =

SOCl2

S=

S=

C=

O=

O=

O=

Cl =

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

F321

Oxidation and Reduction

REDOX REACTIONS

O.S.
Redox

When reduction and oxidation take place

+7

Oxidation

Removal of electrons; species get less negative / more positive

+6

Reduction

Gain of electrons; species becomes more negative / less positive

+5
+4
+3

REDUCTION in O.N.

Species has been REDUCED


e.g. Cl is reduced to Cl (0 to -1)

+2
+1

0
-1

INCREASE in O.N.

Species has been OXIDISED


e.g. Na is oxidised to Na+ (0 to +1)

-2
-3

O
X
I
D
A
T
I
O
N

-4
-5
-6
-7

OIL RIG

Oxidation Is the Loss


Reduction Is the Gain of electrons

Q.6

Q.7

Classify the following (unbalanced) changes as oxidation, reduction or neither.


a) Mg > Mg2+

b) O2- > O

c) Al3+ > Al

d) Fe3+ > Fe2+

e) Ti3+ > Ti4+

f) 2Q > Q2

What change takes place in the oxidation state of the underlined element ?
Classify the change as oxidation (O), reduction (R) or neither (N).
a) NO3 > NO

b) HNO3 > N2O

c) CH4 > CO

d) Cr2O72- > Cr3+

e) SO32- > SO42-

f) Cr2O72- > CrO42-

g) H2O2 > H2O

h) H2O2 > O2

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

R
E
D
U
C
T
I
O
N

F321

Oxidation and Reduction

How to balance redox half equations


Step

1 Work out the formula of the species before and after the change;
2 If different numbers of the relevant species are on both sides, balance them
3 Work out the oxidation number of the element before and after the change
4 Add electrons to one side of the equation so the oxidation numbers balance
5 If the charges on all the species (ions and electrons) on either side of the
equation do not balance, add H+ ions to one side to balance the charges
6 If the equation still doesnt balance, add sufficient water molecules to one side

Example 1 Iron(II) being oxidised to iron(III).


Steps1/2

Fe2+

Step 3

+2

Step 4

Fe2+

>

Fe3+
+3

>

Fe3+

now balanced

Example 2 MnO4 being reduced to Mn2+ in acidic solution

Q.8

Steps 1/2

MnO4 >

Mn2+

Step 3

+7

+2

Step 4

MnO4 + 5e

>

Step 5

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

Step 6

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

Mn2+
Mn2+

Mn2+

Balance the following half equations


I2

>

C2O42-

>

2CO2

H2O2

>

O2

H2O2

>

H2O

Cr2O72-

>

Cr3+

SO42-

>

SO2

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

4H2O

now balanced

F321

Oxidation and Reduction

Combining half equations


A combination of two ionic half equations, one involving oxidation and the other reduction,
produces a balanced REDOX equation. The equations can be balanced as follows...

Step

1 Write out the two half equations


2 Multiply the equations so that the number of electrons in each is the same
3 Add the equations and cancel out the electrons on either side of the equation
4 If necessary, cancel out any other species which appear on both sides

Example

The reaction between manganate(VII) and iron(II).

Step 1

Fe2+

>

Fe3+ +

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

Step 2

5Fe2+

Mn2+ + 4H2O

> 5Fe3+ + 5e
+

MnO4 + 5e + 8H
Step 3

Oxidation

>

Reduction

multiplied by 5
2+

Mn

+ 4H2O

multiplied by 1

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e


MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e

gives

Q.9

MnO4 + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ >

Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+

Construct balanced redox equations for the reactions between


a) Mg and H+
b) Cr2O72- and Fe2+
c) H2O2 and MnO4
d) C2O42- and MnO4
e) S2O32- and I2
f) Cr2O72- and I

www.XtremePapers.net
KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008

You might also like