Electrochemistry
1-1: Introduction, Oxidation Numbers
ES 10: Chemistry for Engineers
Cyhdar G. Racho
Note: These lecture slides are not meant to be published.
Electrochemistry
• the branch of chemistry that deals with the
interconversion of electrical energy and
chemical energy
• redox reactions (oxidation-reduction)
▪ spontaneous reaction: energy is released
▪ nonspontaneous reaction: energy is used
Electrochemistry
• Review: spontaneous vs non-spontaneous
• Guide question: Is it more natural for you to
stand on two feet or on one foot only?
• Replace “natural” with “spontaneous”
– The more “natural”, the more spontaneous.
Electrochemistry
Example of a redox reaction:
Zinc rod Zinc sulfate solution
Copper sulfate solution Solid copper
Electrochemistry
Another example of a redox reaction:
Oxidation Number
• also known as oxidation state
• number of charges the atom would have in a
molecule if electrons were transferred
completely
Rules
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na
0 0 0
H2 O2 Na
Rules
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na
2. Ions composed of only one atom: oxidation
number is same as charge on the ion
• e.g. O2-, Na+
-2 +1 0
2- +
O Na Na ge!
ar
No ch
Rules
3. Oxygen: -2 in most compounds, -1 in
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxide ion
(O22-)
-2 -1 -1
H2O 2-
H 2 O2 O2
Rules
4. Hydrogen: +1 in most compounds, -1 when
bonded to metals in binary compounds (LiH,
NaH)
+1 -2 +1 -1 -1
H2O H 2 O2 NaH
Rules (Recap Part 1 of 2)
1. Free elements: oxidation number is zero
• e.g. H2, O2, Na
2. Ions composed of only one atom: oxidation
number is same as charge on the ion
• e.g. O2-, Na+
3. Oxygen: -2 in most compounds, -1 in hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2) and peroxide ion (O22-)
4. Hydrogen: +1 in most compounds, -1 when
bonded to metals in binary compounds (LiH,
NaH)
Rules
5. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine: -1
when occurring as halide ions
-1 -1 -1
- - -
Fl Cl Br
Rules
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
ll c harge!
era
e has no ov
ul
Molec
+1 -1
H 2 O2
2 × (+1) + 2 × (-1) = 0
Rules
7. In a polyatomic ion, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the elements in the ion must
be equal to the net charge of the ion.
c harge!
ver a l l
Mo l e c ul e has o
+1 -2
+
H3O
3 × (+1) + 1 × (-2) = +1
Rules (Recap Part 2 of 2)
5. Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine: -1
when occurring as halide ions
6. In a neutral molecule, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
7. In a polyatomic ion, sum of oxidation
numbers of all the elements in the ion must
be equal to the net charge of the ion.
Exercises!
• Assign oxidation numbers to all the
elements in the following compounds:
1. Na2O
2. HNO2
3. Cr2O72-
