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Redox Notes

The document discusses oxidation numbers, which represent the number of electrons an atom uses to bond. It outlines rules for assigning oxidation numbers to different elements in compounds and ions. It also discusses redox reactions, which involve both oxidation and reduction processes, and how to write half reactions and identify spectator ions.

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14 views

Redox Notes

The document discusses oxidation numbers, which represent the number of electrons an atom uses to bond. It outlines rules for assigning oxidation numbers to different elements in compounds and ions. It also discusses redox reactions, which involve both oxidation and reduction processes, and how to write half reactions and identify spectator ions.

Uploaded by

yanny280906
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Oxidation number

Oxidation number- the number of electrons that an atom uses to bond with the atom(s) of
another element

● All elements in their natural state have an oxidation number of zero


● Group 1, 2, and 3 compounds are always +1, +2, and +3 respectively
● In compounds, fluorine is always -1 (it’s the most electronegative element)
● In compounds, oxygen is usually -2 (it’s the 2nd most electronegative element) except
for in peroxides, where it is -1
● In compounds, hydrogen is usually +1, but if bonded to a metal it becomes -1 (as metals
always carry positive oxidation numbers)
● In compounds chlorine is usually -1

★ Charge is to do with electronegativity


★ The more electronegative element takes the negative oxidation number in a compound

● Oxidation number deals with individual atoms (so, for example, if there are 2 fluorines in
a compound, the oxidation number of fluorine will be -1 x 2= -2), and the sum oxidation
numbers must always add up to zero (so if in CO2 the oxygens have an
overall charge of -4, then the single C must have an overall charge of
+4)
● Drawing the dot and cross diagram also helps if you get really stuck, but
take more time

★ We also need to be able to work out the oxidation


number of ions, ensuring that the sum of the oxidation
numbers adds up to the ion’s charge

When suggesting formulas for different compounds:


● First work out which elements will be involved
● Then work out, based on any roman numerals, the
oxidation number of the main element (i.e Iron in iron
oxide)
Then balance so that the overall oxidation number is 0
● Do not change the charge of the ‘usually’ elements unless you have to/ it won’t balance
out otherwise, or unless an ‘always’ element is involved (always trumps usually)

Redox reactions
Redox reactions- reactions involving both reduction and oxidation processes

Half equation- only shows one half of the whole reaction in its simplest form
● This is rounded down to the minimum value for each element (1) unless the element is
supposed to be in a certain form, i.e diatomic.
● An example: Na -> Na+ + e-) < that is the oxidation half (another example might be Cl2
+ 2e- -> 2Cl-) < reduction half

Oxidation- the loss of electrons (increase in oxidation number)


Reduction- gain of electrons (decrease in oxidation number)

★ Within redox equations, we need to determine the oxidation number of each element
involved in a compound
★ Any ions/atoms whose oxidation numbers don’t change are called spectator ions, and
would be removed in an ionic equation

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