KEY

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Period: _________

Lecture 6
Oxidation Reduction (Redox) Reactions (AP Chemistry Topic 4.9)
Student Notes

Enduring Understanding Learning Objective(s)

• A substance can change into another substance • Represent a balanced redox reaction equation using
through different processes, and the change itself can half-reactions.
be classified by the sort of processes that produced it.

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

redox
Oxidation-reduction reactions, known as _______________ reactions involve a transfer of electrons from one element
to another. An oxidation reaction cannot occur without reduction. One substance must gain the electrons lost by the
other substance. All chemical reactions, except double replacement (precipitation reactions) and neutralization
reactions, are redox reactions.

Oxidation Reduction
Oxidation occurs when an Reduction occurs when an
atom undergoes an atom undergoes a
increase in its
_______________ decrease in its
________________
oxidation number by oxidation number by
losing electrons gaining electrons

Ca(s) → Ca2+ + 2e- I2(s) + 2e- → 2I-

Mnemonics: Oxidation Numbers

LEO the lion says GIR Oxidation numbers are a method of tracking the “ownership” of electrons by atoms
OIL RIG and they represent the total number of electrons that an atom either gains or loses
in order to form a chemical bond with another atom
 Practice with Oxidation Numbers

Na Na Fe2O3 0 2 Fe 3t
=

0
= -
=

Al+3 PO4-3 0 2 P
=

Al 3+ 5t
-
=
=

H2O 0 =
2
-

H =
1t H2S H =
1 +

S =
2 -

NH3 1 N H2SO4 0 2 H 1 S bt
=

H 3
+ - +
- =
= =
=

CaH2 Ga =
2 +

H =
1 -
NH4Cl H =
1 +

C1 =

1 -

N =
3 -

SO4-2 0 6t K3PO4 0 2 k 1 P 5 +
=

2 S
= +
= -
- =
=

Cr2O7-2 0
=

2 -Cr = 6t HNO3 0
=

2 -
H =
1t N =
5t

MnO2 Mn KNO2 0 2 k 1 N
=

4+ 3+
=

0 2
- +

= - = =

Redox Reactions
Recall:
• The species that loses electrons and undergoes an increase in their oxidation number is oxidized. The
species that is oxidized is the reducing agent.
• The species that gains electrons and undergoes a decrease in their oxidation number is reduced. The
species that is reduced is the oxidizing agent.

For the following redox reactions, Identify what species is oxidized, what species is
reduced as well as the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent
2 Na + FeCl → 2 NaCl + Fe HNO + HI → NO + I + H O
2 3 2 2 2
*
1 E 1 5 2
-

0 +1
-
2
+
1 2
+ +
+ - -

2 +
-

O
-reduced en
oxidized reduced oxidized

reducing agent
HI is
Na is reducing agent
is oxidizing
Feck is oxidizing agent HNOs agent
C + H2SO4 → CO2 + SO2 + H2O 2 C2H2 + 5 O2 → 4 CO2 + 2 H2O
+4 0 4 2
Y
0 +
-
+
-
I
-
2
e -
oxidized reduced --
reduced
oxidized

C is
reducing agent C2H is reducing agent
H2SOy is
oxidizing agent Oc is oxidizing agent
 Balancing Redox Reactions

Chemical equations must be balanced for atoms and for charge. We balance redox reactions using the half reaction
method.

Rules for Balancing Redox Reactions (Half- Reaction Method):

1. Assign Oxidation Numbers

2. Write the unbalanced Oxidation and Reduction half reactions.
3. Balance Half Reactions for ATOMS (other than O and H)
4. Balance Half Reactions for CHARGE by adding electrons to the appropriate side
5. Make electrons lost in the oxidation half reaction equal to the electrons gained in the reduction half reaction by
multiplying the entire half reactions
6. Combine the equations and simplify by removing species common to both sides
7. Check your equation to ensure that it is balanced for atoms and balanced for charge

Al(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Al3+(aq) + Cu(s)

! 2+ 0
3
A redox reaction is represented above -
eoxidized
reduced
1.Which substance is being oxidized and which substance is being reduced?
Al is oxidized
cylt is reduced
2.Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions for the reaction represented above
Alb
2 Alaast
+

ox : Al(s) -> 3e e-
xc
2 Aliss +
+
=

(ag)

CuTaas
2

/
-

red
:

+ 20 -
CUCs) x 3
-

3CUcaa)
+
3CUs)
=
be ->

3.Write the balanced net ionic equation for the oxidation-reduction reaction
2 Al
,s
+

3Cu2+ - 2A)3+ +

3 [Uis
(ag) (ag)

Al(s) + Ni(NO3)2(aq) → Al(NO3)3(aq) + Ni(s)

0
2 3 +
0 +

- oxidized
A redox reaction is represented above X reduced
&

1.Which substance is being oxidized and which substance is being reduced?

Al is oxidized
Nict is reduced
2.Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions for the reaction represented above
ox Alis) ->
Alas 3e
Alas /
be
:

x =>
2Alis) -> 2
+

red
NicTags 20-->
NiYaa)
:

+ Nics) x3 3 +
6 --> 3 Nics)
=

3.Write the balanced net ionic equation for the oxidation-reduction reaction

2 Alis
+
3
Nicas -> 2A)3+ +

3 Nics)
(ag)
 Zn(s) + HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
0 +
1
2t 0

reduced
&
-
A redox reaction is represented above oxidized
1.Which substance is being oxidized and which substance is being reduced?
In is oxidized
Ht is reduced
2.Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions for the reaction represented above

ox
:

Encs -> En Tags + ze- e- already

lost

red: 2HTcags +

20
-

-> H2 (9)
equals e-gained .

3.Write the balanced net ionic equation for the oxidation-reduction reaction
2+

Enc +

attaal ->
H2(a)
+
zu
(ax)

When balancing redox reactions in acidic solutions, we follow similar steps but we can introduce H+ to help us balance
the equation for hydrogen. We use H2O to help us balance the equation for oxygen.

Rules for Balancing Redox Reactions in ACIDIC solution (Half- Reaction Method):

1.Assign Oxidation Numbers

2.Write the unbalanced Oxidation and Reduction half reactions.
3.Balance Half Reactions for ATOMS (other than O and H)
• Use H2O to balance the O. Then use H+ to balance H
4.Balance Half Reactions for CHARGE by adding electrons to the appropriate side
5.Make electrons lost in the oxidation half reaction equal to the electrons gained in the reduction half reaction by
multiplying the entire half reactions
6.Combine the equations and simplify by removing species common to both sides
7.Check your equation to ensure that it is balanced for atoms and balanced for charge

Balance the equation below in acidic solution using the half reaction method
Ene reduced
Ag(s) + NO3-(aq) → Ag+(aq) + NO(g)
O+
-
oxidized

ox
:

Agis ->
Agt (aa) +

e- x 3 =
3Agcs
-
3 Agans +
32

red: NOsaas + 4 H +
32
NOcy)
+

2 H20

3 Agcs) NO5 cap 4H Agcans +

2H20ce
+

->
NOcgs
+

3 +
 Balance the equation below in acidic solution using the half reaction method
it - 2 0

MnO4 -(aq) + Cl-(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + Cl2(g)

-
-
reduced oxidized

10Cianc 5(12(a)+
->

x 5
-
=
-> + 2
:

OX 221 laa C12

(9)

red
MnOycag) H+ Se Mn caa+ 4H20ce) 27 x
:

8
-

->
+ +

MnOyags ICH gas Ne- 2Mnan SH20

(aq) +
+

10 CI cans 2
MnOxcaas 1CHaas -> +
542(a) 2 Mm 8H2Oce
+ +
+

aas

Balance the equation below in acidic solution using the half reaction method
7t 2 -

3t Ot

CrO4-(aq) + S2-(aq) → Cr3+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

-
reduced oxidized

Sans+4H20(1)
-

ox :
SO4 Hans Se
->
+

caaL

red : +
cr3+
crOIcaa) 4e 4H20c) 2 =7
-
+

8H - x
+

(aq) (aaL
37
- -> 2 cr 8H20
2CrOp +16 H
=> +
we +

g 4
S +
-
4 H20
+

2Cra +
H+- SOY+ -
8H 2cr + +
+
+
8 H20
-
+

/
8
Saas + 2 CrOncaaL 8 Haas-> SOpTag) +2 +
4 Mn0
craa) +

When balancing redox reactions in basic solutions, we follow the same process we used to balance in acidic solution :)
but add the following extra steps at the end:

1.For each H+, add one OH- to both sides of the equation
2.Combine the H+ and OH- to make H2O
3.Subtract H2O from both sides is possible

Balance the equation below in basic solution using the half reaction method
5t 0 It It

IO3 + Re → ReO4 + IO-

- -
en
& X .
red

ox Re +4 HzO ReO 8Ht+7e-x4 4ReOn +324+ 28e

:

->
=7 4Re+14Hz0
+
->

+
105
+
14H20
-

red
:

7105 28e- -> 110

-

4H + 4e 10 + 2H20 x7 = +
28H
+

2
4Re +H20+7105 -NH +

- - 4ReOF
20e +34 +
710
-

+20 + -

4Re+7105 2H20 -
4 ReO
-

40H 4H + 40H
+ + -

7 10
+
+

2
4Re +
7105 + % +
40H- - 4ReO +110 - +

H20

4Re+7105 + 4OH-- 4ReO-+ 710-+2 H20

A this one is
HA Balance the equation below in basic solution using the half reaction method
3 +
1-

AlH4 + H2CO →-
It 02-3+
Al3+
1 - 1 + 1 - 2-it

+ CH3COH
red

AlHy+ 2HzC0 AlT CHyCOH +H20 2H Ge

:

ox - +
+
+

red
:

+
2H2C0 +
2H 22 - CH3COH +

H20 x3 = kHzC0 +4H+be f 3CH3COH + 3 H20

Al +
8Hz0 +
H +

- -> Alt +
4CH3COH +

4H20 +I -
be
~ -

A1H 8 H2C0 +4H

-

+
+ 40H Al +
4 CH3COH +4 H20 +40H-

CH2CO+0 - Al + 20 +YOH-
Al +
+ YCH3COH

AlA+8HICO-> Alt
-

4CH3COH 40H
+
+

Balance the equation below in basic solution using the half reaction method
+ -
2
+
2 -
34+ 2
-
-
3 -
2

→ MnO2 + CNO-
MnO4 + - CN-
- +4
2
ox
:

CN-+ H20 -> CNO-+ 2H

+
+ 20 x3 = 3CN+3H20 +3 CNO+6H be +

+
MnOy
:

red +4H 3e- -> MnOz 2MnOy 8H

-

+ 2H20 x2 = + +
be 2MnOr+
4H20
I
3 CN
-

2 Mn0y -
3120
+ 81
+/ 24t +
-

3CNO +2 -
MnO2 +4H20 +6H+ -

3 cN+ 2 MnO+ 2 H +20H- 3CNO+ 2MnOz

+

H2O +20H-
-

3 CN-+ 2 MnU++ H20- 3CNO+2MnO2 +20H

3CN-+
2MnOy
+

H20 -
3CNO-+2MnOz +
20H-