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Unit 10: Chemical Reactions: Redox Reactions (Oxidation-Reduction)

This document provides an overview of redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions for chemistry students. It defines oxidation as losing electrons and reduction as gaining electrons. Oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously in redox reactions. Examples of redox reactions in everyday life include rusting, bleaching, and the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The document discusses how oxidation numbers are used to track electron transfers and explains half reactions and covalent redox reactions. It also discusses how corrosion is an example of a redox reaction and mentions the Flint water crisis caused by lead corrosion of pipes.

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71 views

Unit 10: Chemical Reactions: Redox Reactions (Oxidation-Reduction)

This document provides an overview of redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions for chemistry students. It defines oxidation as losing electrons and reduction as gaining electrons. Oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously in redox reactions. Examples of redox reactions in everyday life include rusting, bleaching, and the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The document discusses how oxidation numbers are used to track electron transfers and explains half reactions and covalent redox reactions. It also discusses how corrosion is an example of a redox reaction and mentions the Flint water crisis caused by lead corrosion of pipes.

Uploaded by

ricky
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT 10: CHEMICAL REACTIONS

REDOX REACTIONS (OXIDATION-REDUCTION)

Mrs. Howland
CP Chemistry
Rev. April 2017
UNIT 10 Chemical Reactions
Redox Reactions

Learners will be able to…


•  Define oxidation
•  Define reduction
•  Identify oxidation in a redox half-reaction
•  Identify reduction in a redox half-reaction
•  List real-life examples of redox reactions
•  Design a lab to determine effects of rust and test method(s)
of corrosion prevention
What do these have in common?
Early definition of OXIDATION
•  Originally, scientists described “oxidation” reactions as
simply a substance combining with oxygen to form an
oxide

•  EXAMPLE: Burning of methane—methane oxidizes to


form oxides of carbon and hydrogen
REDOX in REAL LIFE

•  RUSTING: Elemental IRON slowly oxidizes to form iron


(III) oxide

•  BLEACHING: Stain removal from fabrics!

•  HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: Releases oxygen when it


undergoes decomposition
Opposite of oxidation …
•  REDUCTION is the OPPOSITE of oxidation
•  Originally believed to only involve loss of oxygen from a compound

•  OXIDATION and REDUCTION always occur


simultaneously!!!
•  OXIDIZED substance gains oxygen OR loses electrons
•  REDUCED substance loses oxygen OR gains electrons
Learning the LINGO…
• Substance that is oxidized is the
REDUCING agent
• Substance that is reduced is the
OXIDIZING agent
When oxygen is NOT involved…

•  Oxidation-Reduction reactions (“redox”) do not always


involve oxygen
•  In redox reactions, electrons are transferred between
the reactants

•  Mg (with 0 charge) loses 2 electrons = OXIDIZED to Mg2+


•  S atom (no charge) gains 2 electrons = REDUCED to S2-
When oxygen is NOT involved

•  Oxidation also considered LOSS of HYDROGEN


•  Reduction also considered GAIN of HYDROGEN

•  REMEMBER they are OPPOSITE PROCESSES!! J


How do you remember?
•  Oxidation is Losing Electrons
•  Reduction is Gaining Electrons
How do you remember?
•  Oxidation is Losing Electrons
•  Reduction is Gaining Electrons
HALF REACTIONS
•  Oxidation-Reduction reactions are often looked at using
half-reactions, isolating the oxidation and reduction
Examples
What do the numbers mean?

•  OXIDATION NUMBERS = Charges that represent transfer


of electrons – used for ‘bookkeeping’ when balancing the
equations
Oxidation-Reduction - COVALENT
•  NO actual transfer of electrons
•  COVALENT = sharing of electrons
•  Oxidation – Reduction when sharing is NOT EQUAL

In this covalent compound,


CHLORINE pulls the
electrons toward it more
strongly than HYDROGEN
Electrochemical Cell
CORROSION ~ REDOX REACTION

Drinking water pipes:

Which one had corrosion


control?
Corrosion
Flint Water Crisis
•  Corrosion of pipes lead to contaminated water
•  Lead poisoning in children

•  VIDEO (Scientific American):


http://www.scientificamerican.com/video/corrosive-chemistry-how-lead-
ended-up-in-flint-s-drinking-water1/

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