3.1 - Electron loss and gain

Question 1

What do the terms oxidation and reduction mean in terms of oxygen?

Answer 1

Oxidation is the addition of oxygen
Reduction is the removal of oxygen

Fe2O3 +3CO > 2Fe + 3CO2

Iron becomes reduced
Carbon become oxidised

Question 2

What is a redox reaction?

Answer 2

A redox reaction is a reaction that involves both reduction and oxidation.

Question 3

What is Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons?

Answer 3

2Mg + o2 > 2MgO

This reaction results in the formation of Mg2+ and O2- ions. Each of the magnesium atoms has lost 2 electrons.

Mg > Mg2+ + 2e-

Question 4

What are the definitions of Oxidation and Reduction?

Answer 4

Oxidation is loss of electrons
Reduction is gain of electrons

O
I
L
R
I
G

Question 5

What are oxidising agents?

Answer 5

Oxidising agents is a species that oxidises another species by removing one or more electron when an oxidising agent reacts it gains electrons and is therefore reduced.

Question 6

What are Reducing agents?

Answer 6

A reducing agent is a type of species that reduces another species by adding one or more electrons. When a reducing agent reacts it loses electrons and therefore is oxidised.

Question 7

What are disproportionation reactions?

Answer 7

Following reaction of copper(I) added to water.
2Cu+ > Cu2+ + Cu

One of the CU+ ions has lost an electron to form Cu2+ whilst the other Cu+ ion has gained an electron to form Cu. Both oxidation and reduction have occurred but the same element copper is involved in both charges.
Example of disproportionation.