Redox II Flashcards
Oxidation in terms of electrons and oxidation number
Loss of electrons
Increase in oxidation number
Reduction in terms of electrons and oxidation number
Gain of electrons
Decrease in oxidation number
Always write redox equilibria int he form of
Reduction (electrons on LHS on equation)
What happens to electrons when a metal is placed in water?
Metal atoms shed electrons and the metal ions go into the water so that the electrons build up on the surface and result in a negative charge
How are positive ions attracted to a metal in water?
Buildup of electrons on the metal attracts positive ions in the solution to form a layer of positive ions
How do you some of the positive ions in solution form part of the metal?
Some of the positive ions in the layer regain that electrons from the buildup of electrons and become part of the metal surface again as a metal atom
How is a dynamic equilibrium establish when a metal is placed in water?
When the rate at which ions are leaving the surface = rate at which they are joining again (metal atoms reforming)
Explain what the diagrams for Magnesium in water and Copper in water as a snapshot of dynamic eqm look like?
Magnesium: lots of electrons on the surface and big layer of positive ions
Copper: less electrons on surface and less of a layer of positive ions (because Copper is less reaction so the Cu atoms shed electrons to form positive ions less easily)
Position of equilibrium in relation to how well something sheds slew from a and forms positive ions?
Readily sheds electrons and forms positive ions
Equilibrium lies further to the left
Standard Hydrogen electrode
Equilibrium Pressure Temperature Concentration Catalyst
2H+(aq) + 2e- H2(g) Hydrogen pressure at 1 bar (100kPa) 298K H2SO4 conc is 1mol dm^-3 Platinum catalyst
What is a cell?
The whole set up (two electrodes connected by a voltmeter and saltbridge)
Aka two half cells
What is a half cell?
Each of the two beakers and their contents
Ie. Mg electrode in beaker of Magnesium Sulphate
What is the purpose of a salt bridge?
Included to complete the electrical circuit without introducing any other pieces of metal into the system
What is a salt bridge?
Glass tube filled with an electrolyte like potassium nitrate solution
End stoppered by cotton wool to prevent mixing of contents in salt bridge with those in beaker
What will the system look like if a Magnesium electrode and platinum electrode for hydrogen are measured?
Magnesium electrode had much greater build up of electrons that the platinum electrode
Mg eqm lies further left
Explain why the voltmeter must be high resistance?
Avoids flow of current through the surface