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CIE AS Chemistry Your notes

6.1 Redox Processes: Electron Transfer & Changes in

Oxidation Number (Oxidation State)
Contents
Oxidation Number Rules
Redox Reactions
Oxidising & Reducing Agents

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Oxidation Number Rules

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Oxidation Numbers
The oxidation number (also known as oxidation state) is a number given to each atom or ion in a
compound to keep track of how many electrons they have
In a single ion or molecular ion, the oxidation number tells us how many electrons have been lost or
gained
Positive oxidation number = loss of electrons
Negative oxidation number = gain of electrons
Oxidation number rules
The oxidation number refers to a single atom in a compound

Rule Example

H2
The oxidation number of any uncombined
1 Zn
element is zero
O2
Group 1 elements are always +1
Group 2 elements are always +2
Fluorine is always –1
Many atoms or ions have fixed oxidation numbers
2 Hydrogen is +1, except in hydrides like NaH where
in compounds
it is –1
Oxygen is –2, except in peroxides where it is in –1
and in F2O where it is +2
Zn2+ = +2
The oxidation number of an element in a
3 Fe3+ = +3
monoatomic ion is always the same as the charge
Cl– = –1
NaCl
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a compound Na = +1
4
is zero Cl = –1
Sum of oxidation numbers = 1 – 1 = 0
SO42–
The sum of the oxidation numbers in an ion is S = +6
5 Four O atoms = 4 x (–2) = –8
equal to the charge on the ion
Sum of oxidation numbers = 6 – 8 = –2

In either a compound or an ion, the more F 2O

6 electronegative element is given the negative Two F atoms = 2 x (–1) = –2
oxidation number O = +2

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Worked example
Your notes
Deducing oxidation numbers
State the oxidation number of the bold atoms in these compounds or ions.
1. P2O5
2. SO42–
3. H2S
4. Al2Cl6
5. NH3
6. ClO2–
7. CaCO3
Answer
1. P2O5
5 O atoms = 5 x (–2) = –10
The overall charge of the compound = 0
2 P atoms = +10
Oxidation number of 1 P atom = (+10) / 2 = +5
2. SO4 2–
4 O atoms = 4 x (–2) = –8
The overall charge of the compound = –2
The oxidation number of 1 S atom = +6
3. H2S
2 H atoms = 2 x (+1) = +2
The overall charge of the compound = 0
The oxidation number of 1 S atom = –2
4. Al2Cl6
6 Cl atoms = 6 x (–1) = –6
The overall charge of the compound = 0
2 Al atoms = +6
The oxidation number of 1 Al atom = (+6) / 2 = +3
5. NH3
3 H atoms = 3 x (+1) = +3
The overall charge of the compound = 0
The oxidation number of 1 N atom = –3
6. ClO2–
2 O atoms = 2 x (–2) = –4
The overall charge of the compound = –1
The oxidation number of 1 Cl atom = +3
7. CaCO3
3 O atoms = 3 x (–2) = –6
1 Ca atom = +2

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The overall charge of the compound = 0

The oxidation number of 1 C atom = +4
Your notes

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Redox Reactions
Your notes
Balancing Redox Reactions
Oxidation numbers can be used to balance chemical equations
Roman numerals between brackets are used to show the ox. no. of an atom that can have multiple
oxidation states, e.g.:
Fe(II) = iron with an oxidation number of +2
Fe(III) = iron with an oxidation number of +3

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Worked example
Your notes
Writing overall redox reactions
Manganate(VII) ions, MnO4–, react with Fe2+ ions in the presence of acid, H+, to form Mn2+ ions, Fe3+
ions and water.
Write the overall redox equation for this reaction.
Answer
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation and identify the atoms which change in oxidation number:

Step 2: Deduce the oxidation number changes:

Step 3: Balance the oxidation number changes:

Step 4: Balance the charges:

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Your notes

Step 5: Balance the atoms:

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Redox & Disproportionation Reactions

Oxidation Your notes
Oxidation is the gain of oxygen, e.g.:
Cu + H2O → CuO + H2
Cu has gained an oxygen and is oxidised
Oxidation is also the loss of a hydrogen, e.g.:
2NH3 + 3Br2 → N2 + 6HBr
N has lost a hydrogen and is oxidised
Oxidation is also the loss of electrons, e.g.:
Cu2+ + Mg → Mg2+ + Cu
Mg has lost two electrons and is oxidised
Oxidation causes an increase in oxidation number, e.g:
Cu2+ + Mg → Mg2+ + Cu
The oxidation number of Mg changes from 0 to +2, thus Mg is oxidised

Reduction
Reduction is the loss of oxygen, e.g.:
Cu+ H2O → 2CuO + H2
O has been reduced
Reduction is also the gain of a hydrogen, e.g.:
2NH3+ 3Br2 → N2 + 6HBr
Br has been reduced
Reduction is also the gain of electrons, e.g.:
Cu2+ + Mg → Mg2+ + Cu
Cu has been reduced
Reduction causes a decrease in oxidation number, e.g.:
Cu2+ + Mg → Mg2+ + Cu
The oxidation number of Cu changes from +2 to 0, thus Cu is reduced

OIL RIG acronym

Use the acronym "Oil Rig" to help you remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction
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Redox reactions
Redox reactions are reactions in which oxidation and reduction take place together Your notes
While one species is oxidising, another is reducing in the same reaction
For example:
Cu2++ Mg → Mg2+ + Cu
Cu has been reduced from +2 to 0
Mg has been oxidised from 0 to +2

Worked example
Oxidation and reduction
In each of the following equations, state which reactant has been oxidised and which has been
reduced.
1. 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
2. Mg + Fe2+ → Mg2+ + Fe
3. CO + Ag2O → 2Ag + CO2
Answer
Answer 1:
Oxidised: Na as the oxidation number has increased from 0 to +1
Reduced: Cl2 as the oxidation number has decreased from 0 to –1
Answer 2:
Oxidised: Mg as the oxidation number has increased by 2
Reduced: Fe2+ as the oxidation number has decreased by 2
Answer 3:
Oxidised: C as it has gained oxygen
Reduced: Ag as it has lost oxygen

Disproportionation reactions
A disproportionation reaction is a reaction in which the same species is both oxidised and reduced at
the same time

Example disproportion reaction

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Your notes

Example of a disproportion reaction in which chlorine has been both oxidised and reduced

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Worked example
Your notes
Balancing disproportionation reactions
Balance the disproportionation reaction which takes place when chlorine is added to hot
concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide.
The products are Cl– ions, ClO3– ions and water.
Answer
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation and identify the atoms that change in oxidation number:

Step 2: Deduce the oxidation number changes:

Step 3: Balance the oxidation number changes:

Step 4: Balance the charges:

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Your notes

Step 5: Balance the atoms:

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Oxidising & Reducing Agents

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Oxidising & Reducing Agents
Oxidising agent
An oxidising agent is a substance that oxidises another atom or ion by causing it to lose electrons
An oxidising agent itself gets reduced
This means that an oxidising agent gains electrons
Therefore, the oxidation number of the oxidising agent decreases
For example:

Reducing agent
A reducing agent is a substance that reduces another atom or ion by causing it to gain electrons
A reducing agent itself gets oxidised
This means that a reducing agent loses / donates electrons
Therefore, the oxidation number of the reducing agent increases
For example:

For a reaction to be recognised as a redox reaction, there must be both an oxidising and reducing
agent
Some substances can act both as oxidising and reducing agents
Their nature is dependent upon what they are reacting with and the reaction conditions

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Worked example
Your notes
In which of the following reactions is the species in bold acting as an oxidising agent?
1. Cr2O72– + 8H+ +3SO32– → 2Cr3+ + 4H2O +3SO42–
2. Mg + Fe2+ → Mg2+ + Fe
3. Cl2 + 2Br– → 2Cl– + Br2
4. Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
Answer
Oxidising agents are substances that oxidise other species, gain electrons and are themselves
reduced.
1. Cr2O72– + 8H+ +3SO32– → 2Cr3+ + 4H2O +3SO42–
The SO32– has an oxidation number of –2
This becomes SO42–, which still has an oxidation number of –2
There is no change in oxidation number so this equation cannot be the correct answer
2. Mg + Fe2+ → Mg2+ + Fe
The Fe2+ has an oxidation number of +2
This becomes Fe, which has an oxidation number of 0
The oxidation number has decreased, which means that the Fe2+ has acted as an oxidising
agent and this equation is the correct answer
3. Cl2 + 2Br– → 2Cl– + Br2
The Br– has an oxidation number of –1
This becomes Br2, which has an oxidation number of 0
The oxidation number has increased, which means that Br– has acted as a reducing agent and
this equation cannot be the correct answer
4. Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
The CO has an oxidation number of 0
This becomes CO2, which still has an oxidation number of 0
There is no change in oxidation number so this equation cannot be the correct answer

Roman numerals
Roman numerals are used to show the oxidation states of transition metals which can have more than
one oxidation number
Iron can be both +2 and +3 so Roman numerals are used to distinguish between them
Fe2+ in FeO can be written as iron(II) oxide
Fe3+ in Fe2O3 can be written as iron(III) oxide

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Worked example
Your notes
Give the full systematic names of the following compounds:
1. FeCl2
2. HClO4
3. NO2
4. Mg(NO3)2
5. K2SO4
Answer
Answer 1: FeCl2
The oxidation number of 2 Cl atoms = –2
FeCl2 has no overall charge
So, the oxidation number of Fe is +2
Therefore, the systematic name is iron(II) chloride
Answer 2: HClO4
The oxidation number of the H atom = +1
The oxidation number of 4 O atoms = –8
HClO4 has no overall charge
So, the oxidation number of Cl is +7
Therefore, the systematic name is chloric(VII) acid
Answer 3: NO2
The oxidation number of 2 O atoms = –4
NO2 has no overall charge
So, the oxidation number of N is +4
Therefore, the systematic name is nitrogen(IV) oxide
Answer 4: Mg(NO3)2
The systematic name is magnesium nitrate
This is a salt of the common acid, which means that they are named without including the
oxidation number of the non-metal
Answer 5: K2SO4
The systematic name is potassium sulfate
Again, this is a salt of the common acid, so it is named without including the oxidation number
of the non-metal

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