Chapter 08

Oxidation & Reduction

By: Dalia Rifaat

Learning Outcomes :
Learning Outcomes :

 Identify Oxidation and Reduction

reactions ( Redox )

 Learn some of their applications

in day to day lives.
 Redox Reactions

Oxidation and reduction reactions

always occur together (redox reactions)

You can’t have one without the other

4
They include Chemical Reactions such as:

 Breathing Oxygen in and carbon dioxide

out.
 Burning charcoal.
 Production of electrical energy in batteries.
 Rusting of IRON.
 Removal of stains by bleaching.
 Conversion of food to energy.
 Plants + Energy from Sun → Starch.
03_01.JPG
Why are copper
roofs green ?

Oxidation of
Copper by air
and water into
CuO
And other
chemicals that
turn bluish
green

8
Oxidation and Reduction
4 views
Oxidation : Gain of Oxygen

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

2Zn + O2 → 2ZnO

N2 + O2 → 2NO
When an element, such as zinc or nitrogen,
combines with oxygen, chemists say it is
Oxidized
2Zn + O2 → 2ZnO

N2 + O2 → 2NO

e.g. Combustion reaction

Combustion reaction :
The burning of a substance in
oxygen.
Oxygen was added.

12
When Zinc oxide, ZnO is heated with carbon.
It forms molten Zinc and CO gas.
ZnO + C → Zn + CO↑
So chemists say the zinc has been

reduced.
Removal of Oxygen
Reduction :
The opposite process would require the
removal of oxygen.
 Thus it was called Reduction.
Whenever oxidation occurs, reduction
must also occur in an exactly equivalent
amount, and vice versa.
14
Transfer of Electrons :

Oxidation-reduction
reactions involve the
transfer of electrons from
one substance to another.

15
An easy way to think about oxidation and
reduction is to remember:

’OILRIG’
Oxidation Is Loss of electrons,
Reduction Is Gain of electrons.
Transfer of Electrons

 Oxidation–reduction reactions are

reactions involving the transfer of
electrons from one substance to
another.
Whenever a metal and a nonmetal
react, electrons are transferred.

2 Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2 NaCl(s)

17
 Oxidation numbers

The oxidation number describes how

many electrons have been lost or
gained by an atom.
Atoms in elemental form have an
oxidation number of zero

e.g. Ca+2 , Cl-1 , Na0, Zn+2

H2
19
 Oxidation numbers

2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl

Loss of Electrons : Increase in Oxidation

No.
Na0 → Na+1 + e ( Oxidation )
Gain of Electrons : Decrease in Oxidation
No.

Cl0 + e → Cl-1 ( Reduction )

 Oxidation numbers and
Redox

 Oxidation is a loss of electrons; the oxidized

species becomes more positive.
 Oxidation = Increase in the oxidation no.
 Reduction, in turn, involves a gain of
electrons and the reduced species becomes
more negative.
 Reduction = Decrease in the oxidation no.

21
Example :
Oxidation is increase in oxidation number

Zn0 → Zn2+ + 2e-

Mg0 → Mg+2 + 2e-
Example :

Reduction is decrease in Oxidation number

Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu 0

S0 + 2e- → S-2

S+6 + 2e- → S+4

 To Wrap Up

 An Increase in the oxidation number for

an atom indicates the loss of
electrons, so it is oxidation.

 A Decrease in the oxidation number of

an atom indicates the gain of electrons
and so is a reduction.

24
Consider the following equation:
Fe → Fe3+ + 3 e−

Which best describes iron- Fe in this

reaction?
a) Iron gains electrons and is oxidized.
b) Iron gains electrons and is reduced.
c) Iron loses electrons and is oxidized.
d) Iron loses electrons and is reduced
Answer:
C
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When an element is oxidized, its
oxidation no.
a. Decreases, as electrons are gained
b. Decreases, as electrons are lost
c. Increases, as electrons are gained
d. Increases, as electrons are lost
Answer:
D 26
In each of the following changes, is the
reactant undergoing oxidation or
reduction? (These are not complete
chemical equations.)
a. Zn → Zn+2
b. Fe+3 → Fe+2
c. S -2 → S
d. F2→ 2F -
27
 Solution

a. Zn atom loses two electrons- Zinc is

oxidized.
b. Fe+3 gains an electron - Fe(III) ion is
reduced.
c. S loses two electrons- The sulfide ion
is oxidized.
d. Elemental fluorine- F 0 is reduced.
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Learning Checks:

Identify each of the following as:

1) oxidation or 2) reduction

__A. Sn(s) Sn4+(aq) + 4e−

1 A. Sn(s) Sn4+(aq) + 4e−

__B. Fe3+(aq) + 1e− Fe2+(aq)

2 B. Fe3+(aq) + 1e− Fe2+(aq)
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Identify each of the following as:
1) oxidation or 2) reduction

__ C. Cl2(g) + 2e− → 2Cl−(aq)

2 C. Cl2(g) + 2e− → 2Cl−(aq)

 Experiment # 1
Demo for Redox reactions

Add a zinc sheet to the blue copper

sulphate- CuSO4 solution

Zinc

CuSO4
32
 Experiment # 2
Copper in AgNO3 Solution

Cu0 → Cu+2
red Oxid blue

Ag+1 → Ag0
colorless Red Silvery

Overall Reaction :
Cu(s) + 2 Ag+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2 Ag(s)
 When a coil of copper wire is placed into a silver nitrate
solution, silver metal deposits on the wire and the
solution turns blue as the concentration of Cu2+ ions
increases. During this process, Ag+ changed into Ag
metal. So Ag + is __________.

a) the reducing agent

b) the element oxidized
c) the element reduced
d) neither oxidized nor
reduced

Answer:
C

Instructor’s Resource Materials (Download only) for Chemistry for Changing Times, 14/e, Global Edition © 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
John W. Hill, Terry W. McCreary
Oxidizing agent
VS.
Reducing agent

35
Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Oxidizing agents
cause oxidation.
Reducing agents
cause reduction.
 An oxidizing agent is a substance
that causes oxidation by accepting
transferred electrons. The oxidizing
agent is reduced.
 A reducing agent is a substance that
causes reduction by providing
transferred electrons. The reducing
agent is oxidized.
37
 Reduced

Cu(s) + 2 Ag+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2 Ag(s)

Reducing Oxidizing
agent agent

Oxidized

An oxidizing agent Ag+1 is a substance that

accepts electrons and becomes reduced ( gained
electrons ) accordingly
 Reduced

Cu(s) + 2 Ag+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2 Ag(s)

Reducing Oxidizing
agent agent

Oxidized

A Reducing agent (Cu ) is a substance that

donates electrons and becomes Oxidized ( loses
electrons ) accordingly.
2Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s)
reducing oxidizing
Agent agent

Na is oxidized : 2Na → 2Na+ + 2e‒

Cl2 is reduced : Cl2 + 2e‒ → 2Cl‒
Identify the oxidizing and reducing
agents in the following reactions.

a. 2 C + O2 → 2 CO
C gains oxygen and is oxidized, so it
must be the reducing agent. O2 is
therefore the oxidizing agent.
b. N2 + 3 H2 → 2 NH3
N2 gains hydrogen and is reduced, so it is
the oxidizing agent. H2 therefore is the
reducing agent.
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Day to Day
Electrochemistry and Batteries

Electrochemistry is the study of the

relationship between chemical and
electrical energy. Among its applications
is the creation of batteries, which use
oxidation-reduction reactions to produce
an electric current.

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Electrochemical Cells and Batteries
Overall Reaction :
Cu(s) + 2 Ag+(aq) → Cu2+(aq) + 2 Ag(s)

oxidation
rreduction

To produce
electricity
Electrochemical Cells and Batteries

Electrodes: Pieces of metal where

electrons are transferred.
Anodes: Electrodes where oxidation
occurs.
The species at the anode is giving up its
electrons
Cathodes : Electrodes where reduction
occurs.
The species at the cathode is gaining the
Lead storage batteries
Automobiles
Discharge:
Pb + PbO2 + 2 H2SO4 → 2 PbSO4 + 2 H2O
A car battery discharges while supplying electricity
for the ignition or when the
engine is off, but the lights or the radio are on.
Recharge:
2 PbSO4 + 2 H2O → Pb + PbO2 + 2 H2SO4
The battery is recharged when the car is moving,
and an electric current created by the mechanical
action of the car is supplied back to the battery.
Lead-storage batteries are durable, but they are
heavy, they contain corrosive sulfuric acid, and
lead is a toxic environmental problem.
 Corrosion

1.The Rusting of iron :

 In moist air , iron Fe is oxidized
 Net result is formation of insoluble
Iron (II) Hydroxide
(dark green or black)
Fe (OH)2

Brittle rust that can weaken structures

2.Silver Tarnish:

Silver tarnish is the result of the oxide on

the silver surface reacting with
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in air.
This leaves a layer of black film of silver
sulfide (Ag2S).
 Polishing the tarnished
silver will restore the
shine but at the expense
of some of the silver
metal.
Silver tarnish (Ag2S) is
readily removed upon
contact with aluminum
metal in a sodium
bicarbonate solution put
in a sink
Aluminum metal will
reduce Ag+ to Ag
 Corrosion:

Protection of Aluminum:
Aluminum is more reactive than iron.
However, corrosion of aluminum is not a
serious problem. Aluminum oxide is very
tough and prevents further corrosion.
Aluminium oxide is hard and tough and
adheres strongly to the surface of the metal,
protecting it from further oxidation.
Photochromic Glass:

Eyeglasses with photochromic lenses have

silver and copper(I) chloride embedded in
the glass.
 In the presence of
sunlight, the silver ions
are reduced, forming
clusters of silver atoms
that darken the lenses.

Ag+ + e– → Ag
Cu+ Cu+2 + e-
Oxygen: An Abundant and
Essential Oxidizing Agent

Oxygen is the most

common oxidizing agent. It
makes up 20% of air and
about 50% of Earth by
mass.
In the atmosphere, it can
exist as oxygen molecules
(O2) or ozone (O3). It reacts
with metals and nonmetals,
forming oxides.
 Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2) is a common
oxidizing agent used as
a disinfectant or to
bleach hair
( peroxide blonde).

© 2010 Pearson Prentice Hall,

Inc.
Oxidizing agents are used as disinfectants
 Chlorine Chlorine is used as a
disinfectant in the treatment of drinking and
wastewater. Added to swimming pools
 OR
 Bleaches (NaOCl, Ca(OCl2)) are oxidizing
agents used on fabrics.
 Common Reducing Agents

Antioxidants (reducing agents):Many

antioxidants are believed to retard various
oxidation reactions that are potentially
damaging to vital components of living cells
1. Ascorbic acid prevent browning of
fruits by inhibiting air oxidation
2. Vitamin E and Vitamin A retard
various oxidation that are damaging
to living cells
Five portions of fruits and vegetables per day have
enough of the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E
to lessen effect of Aging
Some Reducing Agents of Interest

Metallurgy Reducing Agents:

Coke (C) is produced by heating coal to
drive off volatile compounds. It is used as
a reducing agent in smelting of metals
(extracting metals from their ores) such as
tin:
SnO2 + C → Sn + CO2

58
 To wrap up
Oxidation is loss of electrons
Reduction is gain of electrons
Oxidation is always accompanied by
reduction ( Redox )
Oxidizing agents oxidize others and are
themselves reduced
Reducing agents reduce others and are
themselves oxidized
Mid Term 1 on Sunday 5th of March 2017