Redox Flashcards
What is oxidation?
The loss of electrons
What is reduction?
The gain of electrons
What is the reactant that is oxidised called?
Reductant/reducing agent
What is the reactant that is reduced called?
Oxidant/oxidising agent
What is the difference in how oxidation numbers and charges are written?
Oxidations numbers have the sign before the number, whereas charger have the number before the sign
Are oxidation numbers and charges equal?
Not necessarily, they can be but it isn’t always the case
What are the rules for oxidation numbers?
- When atoms exist as elements, they have an oxidation number of 0
- The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion is the same as the charge on the ion
- Hydrogen in compounds has an oxidation number of +1, except in metal hydrides (or less electronegative elements) where it is -1
- Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2, except in H2O2, where it is -1
- For polyatomic ions (contains more than one ion), the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms equals the charge on the ion
- The sum of the oxidation of the atoms in a molecule
- The oxidation number of a group 1 element is +1
- The oxidation number of a group 2 element is +2
The reductant is the reactant that…
loses electrons and whose oxidation number increases
What do reductants include?
Metals - when metal atoms react, they lose electrons and are oxidised to form metal ions
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for hydrogen?
H2(g) → 2H+(aq) + 2e-
colourless → colourless
0 +1
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for zinc?
Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e-
grey → colourless
0 +2
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for magnesium?
Mg(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2e-
grey → colourless
0 +2
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for copper?
Cu(s) → Cu2+(aq) + 2e-
pink → (usually) blue
0 +2
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for iron?
Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) + 2e-
grey → pale green
0 +2
What is the oxidation half equation, colour change and oxidation numbers for iron (II)?
Fe2+(aq) → Fe3+(aq) + 2e-
pale green → yellow-orange
+2 +3