Important Questions for Class 11

Chemistry
Chapter 8 - Redox Reactions

Very Short Answer Questions 1 Mark

1. Define oxidation reaction?

Ans: A reaction in which oxygen gets added, or removal of a hydrogen atom takes
place is called oxidation reaction.

2. Define reduction reaction?

Ans: A reaction in which oxygen gets removed, or addition of a hydrogen atom takes
place is called oxidation reaction.

3. In the reactions given below, identify the species undergoing oxidation and
reduction. H2S(g)  Cl2  2HCl(g)  S(s)
Ans: Chlorine, being an electronegative element is added to hydrogen, so H2S is
oxidised. Hydrogen is added to chlorine, hence it reduces.

4. What are the most essential conditions that must be satisfied in a redox
reaction?
Ans: It should not conflict with the conservation of electrons. Total number of
electrons lost should be equal to the total number of electrons gained by the
oxidising agent.

5. In the reaction MnO  4HCl  MnCl  Cl  2H O, which species is

2 2 2 2
oxidized?
Ans: As addition of chlorine occurs in HCl, hence, it is the oxidising agent.

6. Why is the following reaction an example of an oxidation reaction?

CH4 (g)  2O2 (g)  CO2 (g)  2H2O
Ans: It is so because addition of oxygen is observed in CH4 . Addition of oxygen
signifies oxidation.

7. Define oxidation in terms of electron transfer.

Ans: Loss of electrons performed by the reducing agent is called oxidation. If the
oxidation number of an element changes from 0 to +1, then it is said to be oxidised.

Class XI Chemistry 1
8. What is meant by reduction?
Ans: Gain of electrons performed by the oxidising agent is called oxidation. If the
oxidation number of an element changes from 0 to -1, then it is said to be reduced.

9. Define an oxidizing agent. Name the best reducing agent.

Ans: A substance which can easily gain electrons is called an oxidising agent.
Fluorine molecules are the best oxidising agent.

10. What is meant by reducing? Name the best reducing agent.

Ans: A substance which can easily lose electrons is called a reducing agent.
Lithium is the best reducing agent.

11. What is the oxidation number of manganese KMnO ?

4
in
Ans: If ‘x’ is the oxidation number of manganese, then:
1  x  4(2)  0
 x  7

12. What happens to the oxidation number of an element in oxidation?

Ans: Oxidation number increases during an oxidation. If the oxidation number of an
element changes from 0 to +1, then it is said to be oxidised.

13. Name one compound in which the oxidation number of Cl is + 4.

Ans: ClO2 , here the oxidation number of chlorine is +4. It can be found out by
taking the oxidation number as “x”.

14. Indicate the oxidizing and reducing agents in the following reaction :
2Cu2  4I  2CuI  I 2 .
Ans: Cu2 is oxidising agent and I is a reducing agent. The copper ion gives
electrons and the iodide ions accept electrons.

15. A metal ion M3 loses 3 electrons. What will be its oxidation number?
Ans: The oxidation number will be ( 3  3  6). Losing an electron means
more positive charge on the atom, signifying that element is oxidised.

16. Name the different types of redox reaction

Ans:
● Combination reactions
● Decomposition reactions
● Displacement reactions

Class XI Chemistry 2
● Disproportionation reactions

17. Identify the type of redox reaction this reaction follows.

3Mg(s)  N2 (g)  Mg 3 2 N (s)
Ans: As in the reaction, 2 reactants form a single product on heating; it is a
combination reaction.

18. The displacement reactions of Cl, Br, I using fluorine are not generally
carried out in aqueous solution. Give a reason.
Ans: Fluorine being a reactive element replaces chloride bromide and iodide ions in
solution and it reacts with water and displaces the oxygen present there.

19. Which is the strongest oxidizing agent?

Ans: F2 is the strongest oxidising agent. It is the most electronegative element and
undergoes reduction by accepting an electron.

20. Why F ions Cannot be converted to F by chemical means?

2
Ans: It is chemically impossible as fluorine is an oxidising agent, it does not lose
electrons.

21. Define disproportionation reaction.

Ans: In a disproportionation reaction an element in one oxidation state is oxidized
and reduced simultaneously.

22. Identify the 2H2O2 (aq)  2H2O(g)  O2 (g)

reaction
Ans: It is a disproportionate reaction. It is so because hydrogen peroxide is getting
both oxidised and reduced simultaneously.

23. Which gas is produced when less reactive metals like Mg and Fe react with
steam?
Ans: Mg  2H O Mg(OH)  H Fe  3H O Fe O  3H
2 2 2 2 2 3 2
Dihydrogen gas is released.

24. All decomposition reactions are not redox reactions. Give a reason.
Ans: Decomposition of calcium carbonate is not a redox reaction. It is so because
in the decomposition of calcium carbonate, because in the product side, there
should be at least one substance in the elemental state.

Class XI Chemistry 3
25. Complete the following redox reactions and balance the following
equations-
(i) Cr O 2  C O 2  Cr3  CO (in presence of acid)
2 7 2 4 2

Ans: In presence of acid, H ions are available. The reactions are:
Cr2O 7 2 14H  6e  2Cr3  7H O
2
[C 2O 42  2CO  2e ] 3
2
We multiply the second equation by 3 so as to balance the number of electrons, and
we get the final equation as: 
Cr O 2 14H  3C O 2  2Cr3  6CO  7H O
2 7 2 4 2 2

(ii) Sn2  Cr O
2  Sn4  Cr3 (in presence of acid)
7 2

Ans: In presence of acid, H ions are available. The reactions are:

Cr O 2  14H  6e  2Cr3  7H O
2 7 2

[Sn2  Sn4  2e ] 3

We multiply the second equation by 3 so as to balance the number of electrons, and
we get the final equation as:
Cr2O 7 2  3Sn2 14H  2Cr3  3Sn4  7H O
2

26. Write correctly the balanced half – reaction and the overall equations for
the following skeletal equations.
(i) NO 3   Bi(s)  Bi3  NO 2(in acid solution)
Ans: In acidic medium, H  is available.
The oxidation half is:
Bi(s)  Bi3  3e
The reduction half reaction:
[NO3   2H  e  NO2  H 2O] 3
The balanced equation is:

Bi(s)  3NO3  6H  Bi3  3NO
2  3H
2
O

(ii) Fe(OH)2 (s)  H2O2  Fe(OH)3 (s)  H2O (in basic medium)
Ans: In basic medium, OH is available.
The oxidation half is:
[Fe(OH) 2 OH  Fe(OH) 3 e ] 2
The reduction half
is: H 2O 2 2e  2OH

Class XI Chemistry 4
The balanced equation
is: 2Fe(OH)2  H2O2  2Fe(OH)3

27. Define half – cell

Ans: A half cell consists of conducting electrolyte and electrode structure,
separated by a Helmholtz double layer.

28. Set up an electrochemical cell for the redox reaction

Ni2 (aq)  Fe(s)  Ni(s)  Fe2 (aq)
Ans: Fe(s) | Fe2 ||Ni2 (aq)  Ni(s)

29. Can we store copper sulphate in an iron vessel?

Ans: Iron displaces copper from the solution and for this, holes will be created. It
will form iron sulphate.

30. What is the role of a salt bridge in an electrochemical

cell? Ans:
● Provide electrical neutrality
● Prevents mixing of the electrolytes.

31. Which reaction occurs at cathode in a galvanic cell?

Ans: At cathode, reduction happens, whereas oxidation occurs in the anode. A
galvanic cell consists of cathode, anode and electrolyte.

Short Answer Questions 2 Marks

1. Why ClO 4 does not show disproportionation reaction whereas

ClO ,ClO 2 ,ClO 3 shows?
Ans: The chlorine atoms in ClO,ClO ,ClO  have an oxidation state of +1,+3+5
2 3
respectively. However, in ClO  , the oxidation state of chlorine is +7, which is
4
maximum. That is why it doesn’t show a disproportionate reaction.

2. How would you know whether a redox reaction is taking place in an acidic /
alkaline or neutral medium?
Ans: Presence of an acidic solution can be indicated by the presence of H  ions.
Presence of basic or alkaline solution can be indicated by the presence of OH ions.
If both of these ions are absent in the chemical reaction, then it is a neutral
solution.

Class XI Chemistry 5
3. Write the following redox reactions in the oxidation and reduction half
reaction reactions in the oxidation and reduction half reactions.
(i) 2K(s)  Cl2(g)  2KCl(s)
Ans: K(s)  K (aq)  e (oxidation)
Cl 2 (g)  2e  2Cl (reduction)

(ii) 2Al(s)  3Cu2 (aq)  2Al3 (aq)  3Cu(s)

Ans: Al(s)  Al3 (aq)  3e (oxidation)
Cu2  2e  Cu(s) (reduction)

4. An electrochemical cell is constituted by combining Al electrode

( E0  1.66V ) and Cu electrode ( E0  0.34V ). Which of these electrodes will
work as a cathode and why?
Ans: Since the electrode potential of Al is lower than that of Cu, therefore, Cu has
a higher tendency to get reduced and hence Cu electrode acts as a cathode, as
reduction occurs in cathode.
2
5. The E0 of Cu / Cu is + 0.34V. What does it signify?
Ans: It signifies Cu2 have more reduction power, than that of hydrogen ions.
that

6. If reduction potential of an electrode is 1.28V. What will be its oxidation

potential?
Ans: The oxidation potential will be ( 0 1.28  ()1.28V ).

7. What is the electrode potential of a standard hydrogen electrode?

Ans: The electrode potential of a standard hydrogen electrode is 0V.

8. Define a redox couple.

Ans: A redox couple is defined as having together reduced and oxidised forms of a
substance which takes part in an oxidation and reduction half reaction.

9. Explain why 3Fe O (s)  8Al(s)  9Fe(s)  4Al O is it an oxidation

3 4 2 3
reaction? (g)
Ans: It is an oxidation reaction because aluminium is getting oxidised, it forms
Al2O3 in the product, indicating that addition of oxygen has taken place.

Long Answer Questions 5 Marks

Class XI Chemistry 6
1. Balance the following equations by oxidation number method:
(i)
CuO  NH3  Cu  N2  H2O
Ans: Let us observe the chemical equation:
2 3 0 0 2

CuO NH3  Cu  N2  H2O

Oxidation number of copper decreases from +2 to O and that of nitrogen gets
increased from – 3 to 0.
To balance, there should be three atoms of copper and two atoms of nitrogen.
3CuO  2NH3  3Cu  N2  H2O
Now, balancing the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, we get the final equation as:
3CuO  2NH3  3Cu  N2  3H2O

K2MnO4  H2O  MnO2  KMnO4  KOH

(ii)

Ans: Let us observe the chemical equation:

5 4 7

2K2MnO4  H O  MnO2  KMnO4  KOH

2

Oxidation number of manganese changes from +6 to +4, in one mole, and in the
other mole, the oxidation number changes from +6 to +7. 1 mol acquires two
electrons while the other loses 1 electrons. To balance the oxidation number of
manganese, it is multiplied by 2:
K2MnO4  2K2MnO4  H2O  MnO2  2KMnO4  KOH
Further balancing the equation we have:
3K2MnO4  2H2O  MnO2  2KMnO4  4KOH

Class XI Chemistry 7