AK Chemistry (Vinayaka Classes), Attingal HNa/111/25

Phone :( 9497591119, 8281887889

( If you have the inclination to Do Good things, God will Give You Time to Do Good works)

OXIDATION &REDUCTION
CLASSICAL IDEAS OF REDOX REACTIONS:
According to classical concept, oxidation is defined as the addition of Oxygen/ electro negative element to
asubstance or removal of hydrogen electro positive element from a substance.
Eg 2 Mg(s) + O₂(g) → 2 MgO(s), Mg(s) + F₂(g) → MgF₂(s)
Reduction is the removal of oxygen/ electronegative element from a substance or addition of hydrogen
orelectro positive element to a substance.
E.g. 2 HgO(s) → 2 Hg(l) + O2(g), CH₂= CH₂ → CH3 - CH3
Oxidation and reduction reactions are together called as REDOX REACTIONS.
REDOX REACTIONS IN TERMS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTION
Half reactions that involve loss of electrons are called oxidation
OIL
reactions. The half reactions that involve gain of electron are called
RIG
reduction reactions.
E.g. 2Na(s) + Cl₂(g) → 2NaCl(s)
Here Sodium undergoes oxidation and chlorine undergoes reduction. The substance which accepts electron
iscalled oxidizing agent and the substance which donate electron is called reducing agent.
Hence sodium is the reducing agent and chlorine is the oxidizing agent here.
Competitive Electron Transfer Reactions.
The competition for electron transfer between various metals helps us to design a class of cells. The order
ofability to release electrons is obtained from metal activity series or electro chemical series.
Oxidation Number:
1) The sum of the oxidation numbers of all the elements in a compound is equal to zero
2) In case of charged species, the sum of the oxidation numbers equal to its
chargeQ1 Find out the oxidation numbers of elements underlined in the following
compounds?
1)NH3 2) HNO3 3) H3PO4 4) MnO3 5) KMnO4
2- -1
6) Mn2O7 7) K2Cr2O7 8) Cr2O7 9) NO3 10) H2C2O4
Stock Notation: The oxidation number state of a metal in a compound is sometimes represent by
StockNotation.
E.g. Aurous Choride Au(1)Cl Auric Choride
Au(III)CI3Problem. (8.3) (P-261) (8.4)
Note:
i. The oxidation number of oxygen in most compound is - 2
Exceptions in peroxides (H₂O2 , Na₂O₂) each oxygen is assigned an oxidation number of - 1 in super
oxides(KO2, RbO₂) each oxygen atom is assigned an oxidation number of - (1/2) In OF2, (+2) and in O₂F2.
(+1)
The oxidation number of hydrogen is +1+ except in metal hydrides (LiH, NaH, CaH₂) (-1)
Type of Redox Reactions:
1) Combination Reactions:
Two elements combine to form a new
compoundA+B → C Eg. C+O₂ →
CO₂
 2) Decomposition Reactions:
Decomposition reactions leads to the breakdown of a compound into two or more components at least
one of which must be in the elemental state.
E.g. 2H₂O (1) → 2H₂(g) + O₂(g)
3) Displacement Reactions:
Here an ion in a compound is replaced by an ion or atom of another element.
X+YZ → XZ+Y
Displacement reactions are of two types:
a) Metal Displacement: A metal in a compound can be displaced by another metal ion the uncombined
state. Metal displacement reactions find many applications in metallurgical process in which pure metal are
obtained from their compounds in ores.
CuSO4(aq) + Zn(s) Cu(s) + ZnSO4 (aq)
b) Non metal Displacement: This includes hydrogen displacement and a rarely occurring reaction
involving oxygen displacement. All alkali metals and some alkaline earth metals (Ca,Sr and Bа) which are very
good reducing agents will displace hydrogen from cold water.
2Na+ 2H₂O → 2NaOH(aq) + H₂(g)
Less active metals such as Magnesium and Fe react with steam to produce H2 gas.
Mg+2H₂O Mg(OH)₂ + H₂
Zn, Mg & Fe can displace H, from acids Fe + 2HCl > FeCl₂ + H₂
4) Disproportionation reactions:
Here an element in one oxidation state is simultaneously oxidized and reduced.
Eg: 2H2O2/(aq) → 2H₂O(l) +O2(g)
BALANCING OF REDOX REACTIONS
1) Oxidation Number Method. : The principle involved is that the total increase in oxidation must be equal to
total decrease in oxidation number
Step 1: Indicate the oxidation number of each atom involved in the reaction identify the elements whose
oxidation number are changed
Step 2: Calculate the increase or decrease in the oxidation numbers per atom.
Multiply this no's with the number of atoms which undergoing change.
Step 3: Equalise the increase in oxidation number with decrease in oxidation number on the reactant side by
multiplying the formula of the oxidizing and reducing agents.
Step 4: Balance the equation with respect to all other items except H2 & O2
Step 5: Finally balance hydrogen and oxygen
Step 6: For reactions in acidic medium, add H+ ions to the side deficient in hydrogen atoms.
For reactions taking place in basic medium add H₂O molecules to the side deficient in hydrogen atoms and also
add equal number of OH ions on the other side.
Q1. Balance by Oxidation Number method
Step 1: (x) Zn +HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Step 2: The oxidation number of Zinc has increased from 0 to +2 while that of hydrogen has decreased from +1
to 0
 HC is the oxidizing agent. ON increases by 2 per atom

Zn HCl ZnCl2 +H2

ON decreases by 1 per atom

Step 3: The increase in oxidation number of 2 per atom can be balanced with decrease in oxidation number of 2
per atom. If Zn is multiplied by 1 and HCI by 2, the equation will be
Zn + 2HCI → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Balance the following equation by oxidation number method?
I. Cu + No₂ → NO₂ + Cu²+
II. Fe²+ Cr₂O72- + H+ → Fe³+ + 2Cr3+ + H₂O
2) Ion Electron Method or Half Reaction Method:
Step 1: Indicate the oxidation number of each atom involved in the reaction. Identify the element whose
oxidation numbers are changed.
Step 2: Divide the Skelton redox equation into the half reactions. Balance each half reaction separately. In each
half reaction balance the items which undergo the change in oxidation number
Step 3: Add electrons to whichever side are necessary to make up for the difference in oxidation number in each
half reaction.
Step 4: Balance oxygen atoms by the addition of proper number of water molecules to the side falling short of
oxygen atoms in each
Step 5: This step is for ionic equations only. It involves the balancing of H- atoms in each half reaction
a) For acidic medium: Add proper number of H+ ions to the side deficient in H atoms.
b) For basic medium: Add proper number of H2O molecules to the side deficient in H atoms and equal
number of OH ions to the other side.
Step 6: Equalize the number of electrons lost and gained by multiplying the half reactions with suitable numbers
Add two balanced half equations together to get the final equation.
Balance the following redox reactions by ion electron method?
I. SnO2 + C → Sn +CO
II. NO3- + Bi3+ + NO2 in acidic medium
III. Cr(OH)4 + H2O2 → CrO421 + H2O in acidic medium
Answer for QI: SnO2 + C → Sn + CO
Step 1: Indicate the oxidation number of each atom
SnO2 + C → Sn + CO
Step 2: Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions.
C CO (Oxidation)
SnO2 Sn (Reduction)

Step 3: Addition of electrons to make up for the difference in oxidation number.

C → CO+ 2e SnO2 + 4e → Sn
Step 4: Balance oxygen atoms by adding water molecules
 C + H₂O → CO + 2e
SO₂ + 4e → Sn + 2H₂O
Step 5: Not required because the equation is not ionic.
Step 6: Equalize the electrons by multiplying oxidation half reaction by 2.
2C+ 2H₂O → 2CO + 4e-
SnO₂ + + 4e- → Sn + 2H₂O
2C+ SnO₂ → 2CO + Sn
REDOX REATIONS AS THE BASIS FOR TITRATION
In redox systems, the titration method can be adopted to determine the strength of a reductant/ oxidant
using a redox sensitive indicator.
A redox couple is defined as having together the oxidised and reduced forms of a substance taking, part. Salt
Bridge is an inverted U tube which allows in passage of ions from one half cell to another. The potential
associated with each electrode is known as electrode potential. The electrode potential at one atmospheric
pressure and at 298 K is called standard electrode potential.
Questions
8.5, 8.15, 8.23, 8.27, 8.28, 8.30