Topic 3: Redox reactions

Question 1

a redox reaction is

Answer 1

a reaction that involves both reduction and oxidation

Question 2

oxidation is

Answer 2

the loss of electrons

Question 3

reduction is

Answer 3

the gain of electrons

Question 4

an oxidising agent is

Answer 4

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

Question 5

a reducing agent is

Answer 5

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

Question 6

oxidation number is

Answer 6

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

Question 7

an element is oxidised when its oxidation number

Answer 7

increases

Question 8

an element is reduced when its oxidation number

Answer 8

decreases

Question 9

disproportionation is

Answer 9

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