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Redox Review

The study of redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. Key aspects include oxidation states, which track electron transfers, and balancing redox reactions through half-reactions that separately consider the oxidation and reduction processes occurring simultaneously. Balancing involves equalizing electrons between the half-reactions before adding them to give the full reaction.

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2K views

Redox Review

The study of redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. Key aspects include oxidation states, which track electron transfers, and balancing redox reactions through half-reactions that separately consider the oxidation and reduction processes occurring simultaneously. Balancing involves equalizing electrons between the half-reactions before adding them to give the full reaction.

Uploaded by

api-3706290
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Electrochemistry

The study of the interchange


between chemical and electrical
energy
Oxidation-Reduction Reaction Review
• “Redox” reactions involve the transfer of electrons (e-)

• We use oxidation states to keep track of electron transfer

• Some rules for assigning oxidation numbers (or states):


• Oxidation numbers are roughly equivalent to hypothetical
charge in compounds (there are some exceptions)
• H is almost always +1 in compounds (Group 1 element)

• O is almost always -2 in compounds (Group 6 element)

• F is always -1 in compounds (Group 7 element)

• For elements (H2, O2, F2, Ca, K, Mn, etc.) the oxidation
state is always 0
Oxidation-Reduction Review Con’t
• The overall charge of a compound = the sum of
the oxidation states of all atoms in it
– Neutral (i.e. H2O, CO2, CH4)
• H2O : H = +1, O = -2
– The overall charge is 2(1) + -2 = 0
• CO2: What is the oxidation state of C?
– Since C + 2 (O) = 0
– C + 2(-2) = 0, thus C = +4
• CH4: Is C still +4?
– H is always +1
– Therefore to remain neutral, 4(1) + C = 0
– C must = -4
Oxidation-Reduction Review Con’t
• Charged compounds (NO3-, CO32-, NH4+)
– NO3- or (NO3)- : What is the oxidation # of N?
• O is -2, and the overall charge is -1
• Thus, N + 3(O) = -1 or N + 3(-2) = -1
• N = +5
– (CO3)2-: What is the oxidation # of C?
• O is -2, and the overall charge is -2
• Thus, C + 3(O) = -2 or C + 3(-2) = -2
• C = +4
– The oxidation # of charged atoms = charge
• Mn3+ has an oxidation # of +3
• S2- has an oxidation # of -2
Oxidation-Reduction Review Con’t

• Try these…MnO4-, Cr2O72-, C2O42-


• (MnO4)-
– O = -2, so [4(-2) + Mn = -1]
– Mn = +7
• (Cr2O7)2-
– O = -2, so [7(-2) + 2Cr = -2]
– 2Cr = 12, therefore Cr = +6
• (C2O4)2-
– O = -2, so [2C + 4(-2) = -2]
– 2C = 6, therefore C = +3
Assigning Oxidation # Practice
• Assign oxidation numbers to each atom
– Cl2
– Fe2+
– ClO3-
– ClO4-
– IO2-
– CrO42-
– Fe3(PO4)2
– CoSO4
– H2CO3
Assigning Oxidation # Practice
• Assign oxidation numbers to each atom
– Cl2: element → oxidation # = 0
– Fe2+ ion → oxidation # same as charge… +2
– ClO3- : O = -2, Cl = +5 (Cl is usually -1)
– ClO4- : O = -2, Cl = +7
– IO2- : O = -2, I = +3
– CrO42- : O = -2, Cr = +6
– Fe3(PO4)2 : O = -2, P = +5, Fe = +2
– CoSO4 : O = -2, S = +6, Co = +2
– H2CO3 : O = -2, C = +4, H = +1
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
• Two separate reactions occurring
simultaneously
– Oxidation: oxidation # of an atom increases
• i.e. Fe(s) → Fe3+(aq) oxidation state goes from 0
→ +3
– Reduction: oxidation # of an atom is
“reduced”
• i.e. O2 → O2- (oxidation state goes from 0 → -2)
– When occurring together…
• Fe + O2 → Fe3+ + O2-
• This common redox reaction is the formation of
rust
• But, how do we balance this?
Balancing by Half-Reactions
*in acidic solution
CH3OH (aq) + Cr2O72-(aq) → CH2O(aq) + Cr3+(aq)

1. Assign oxidation states to all atoms within the


reaction
C-2H4+O2- + (Cr26+O72-)2- → C0H2+O2- + Cr3+

2. Determine which atom is being reduced and


which is oxidized and write separate reactions
Ox: C-2H4+O2- → C0H2+O2- (C is going from -2 to 0)

Red: (Cr26+O72-)2- → Cr3+

(Cr is being reduced from +6 to +3)


Balancing by Half-Reactions
*in acidic solution
3. For each half-reaction:
• Disregard all oxidation states except those
that are changing (all others will cancel each
other out)
C-2H4+O2- → C0H2+O2- into C-2H4O → C0H2O

• Balance elements (except H and O) by using


coefficients (like normal)
C-2H4O → C0H2O Carbon is already balanced

• Balance O’s by adding H2O to either side


C-2H4O → C0H2O Oxygen is already balanced
Balancing by Half-Reactions
*in acidic solution
3. For each half-reaction:
• Balance H’s by adding H+ to either side (in
acidic solution)
– Where do we add H+?
C-2H4O → C0H2O + 2H+
Double check that all atoms are balanced
• Balance charge by adding electrons to either
side
– Remember that electrons are negative charges
– Use changing oxidation state as a guide
C-2H4O → C0H2O + 2H+
• Now that all elements are balanced, we have
to balance the charges
• Balance charges by adding e- to either side
– All charges stay the same, except C
– Therefore add e- to make the charge equal on
each side
– C-2H4O → C0H2O + 2H+ + 2e-
-2
-2 charge =0
charge ≠ -2charge
charge

Now we have to use the same procedure on the


reduction reaction!!!!!!!
I’ll bet you just can’t wait!!!!!
Time to balance the reduction half
• Reduction half reaction: (Cr26+O72-)2- → Cr3+
• Disregard all other oxidation states (the ones
that aren’t changing): (Cr26+O7)2- → Cr3+
• Balance all elements except H and O
(Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+
• Balance O by adding H2O if necessary
+ 7H2O
(Cr2 O7) → 2Cr
6+ 2- 3+

• Balance H by adding H +
if necessary
14H +
+

(Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


• 6e-
Balance
+ charge by adding e-
14H+ + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
Adding Half-Reactions
*in acidic solution
Now that we have balanced each half rxn, we
need to add them together to get the full rxn
Ox: C-2H4O → C0H2O + 2H+ + 2e-

Red: 6e- + 14H+ + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


4. In order to add the rxn’s, e- must be equal
So, multiply rxn’s by integers to equalize electrons
3 ( -2 )
C H4O → C H2O + 2H + 2e-
0 +

6e- + 14H+ + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


-2 0 +
Let the adding begin…
6e- + 14H+ + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

3C-2H4O → 3C0H2O + 6H+ + 6e-


8H+
3CH4O + + Cr2O72- → 3CH2O + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

…and the reaction is now balanced!


5. Double check that all atoms and charges are
balanced
Balancing by Half-Reactions
(in basic solution)
1. Write oxidation and reduction half-reactions

2. Balance each half-reaction


• Balance elements except for O, H
• Balance O by adding H2O
• Balance H by adding H+
• Add enough OH- to both sides to cancel out any H+
and form H2O
• Recall that H+ + OH- → H2O
• Balance charge by adding electrons

3. Equalize electrons and add half-reactions


Balancing by Half-Reactions
(in basic solution)

• Let’s balance a previous example in basic


solution
– Remember, it is all the same steps up to this point
14H+ + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
+ 14OH- + 14OH-
14H2O + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O + 14OH-

7H2O + (Cr26+O7)2- → 2Cr3+ + 14OH-


Now, continue as you normally would…
Practice Balancing Redox Reactions
Unbalanced reaction (in acid):
MnO4− + Fe2+ → Mn2+ + Fe3+
Balanced Reduction half-reaction:
8H+ + MnO4− + 5e− → Mn2+ + 4H2O
Balanced Oxidation half-reaction:
5( Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e−)

Balanced overall reaction:


8H+ + MnO4− + 5Fe2+ → Mn2+ + 5Fe3+ + 4H2O
Redox Vocabulary
MnO4− + Fe2+ → Mn2+ + Fe3+
• Oxidized species (atom, ion, molecule, or compound)
– whichever species is being oxidized (↑ oxidation #)

• Reduced species
– whichever species is being reduced (↓ oxidation #)

• Oxidizing agent
– Whichever species CAUSES oxidation to occur—in other
words, the oxidizing agent IS the reduced species
• Reducing agent
– Whichever species CAUSES reduction to occur—in other
words, the reducing agent IS the oxidized species
Oxidizing Agent Reducing Agent

MnO4- + Fe2+ → Mn2+ + Fe3+

Reduced species Oxidized species

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