Topic 3 Redox Reactions

Question 1

What is a redox reaction?

Answer 1

a reaction that involves both reduction and oxidation

Question 2

Define oxidation

Answer 2

the loss of electrons (OILRIG)

Question 3

Define reduction

Answer 3

the gain of electrons (OILRIG)

Question 4

What’s an oxidising agent?

Answer 4

a species (atom,molecule or ion) that oxidises another species by removing one or more electrons. When an oxidising agent reacts it gains electrons and is reduced

Question 5

What’s a reducing agent?

Answer 5

a species that reduces another species by adding one or more elctrons. whena reducing agent reacts it loses electrons and is oxidised

Question 6

What’s an oxidation number?

Answer 6

the charge that an ion has or the charge that it would have if the species were fully ionic

Question 7

If an element is oxidised, what happens to its oxidation number?

Answer 7

increases

Question 8

If an element is reduced, what happens to its oxidation number?

Answer 8

decreases

Question 9

Define disproportionation

Answer 9

the simulatneous oxidation and reduction of an element in a single reaction