Chapter 7- Oxidation and Reduction Flashcards
What is oxidation?
The process of losing electrons
What is an oxidising agent?
A species that accepts electrons, causing it to be reduced
What is reduction?
The process of gaining electrons
What is a reducing agent?
A species that loses electrons, causing it to be oxidised
What is a redox reaction?
A reaction in which oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously
What is the oxidation state?
The charge of an ion or the theoretical charge of an atom in a covalently bonded compound
What is the oxidation state of an element and stable compound?
0
What are the oxidation states of hydrogen, oxygen, halogens and group 1 metals?
hydrogen: +1 (unless bonded to metal)
oxygen: -2 (except in peroxide or with F)
halogens:-1
group 1 metals: +1
What are the steps to writing a balanced half equation?
-Find the element changing oxidation state and balance if necessary
-Balance the charge using electrons
-Balance oxygens using H2O
-Balance hydrogens using H+
What must you check before combining half equations to write a redox equation?
-Must contain the same number of electrons so one may need to occur multiple times in order to balance
