Topic 4 Chemical Change Flashcards
C4
What is oxidation/reduction?
When metals react with oxygen we can have an oxidisation or reduction reaction.
Oxidation - Oxygen is added to an element or a compound after the reaction
Reduction - Oxygen is removed from an element or a compound after the reaction
A common example is the reaction with red-brown copper metal to produce black copper oxide:
2Cu + O2 ⟶ 2CuO
In this reaction copper metal has been oxidised since oxygen has been added to it
Another example is the reaction of zinc oxide with carbon:
ZnO + C ⟶ Zn + CO
In this reaction the zinc oxide has been reduced since it has lost oxygen. The carbon atom has been oxidised since it has gained oxygen.
What is the reactivity series of metals? What are the trends in reactivities of metals in reactions
with acids/water?
- The series shows the metals in order of their reactivity.
- Metal atoms form positive ions by loss of electrons when they react with other substances
- The tendency of a metal to lose electrons is a measure of how reactive the metal is
- A metal that is high up on the series loses electrons easily and is thus more reactive than one which is lower down on the series
- Note that although carbon and hydrogen are non-metals, they are included in the series as they are useful in extracting metals from their oxides by reduction processes
(See pg 3 Savemyexams for reactivity Series)
What is a displacement reaction?
A reaction where a more reactive metal displaces (PUSHES OUT) a less reactive metal from a compound
How are oxidation and reduction defined in terms of electron transfer?
Oxidation – loss of electrons
Reduction – gain of electrons
What is the general equation for a reaction between metals and acids? What type of reaction is this?
Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen
Redox reaction, also a displacement reaction
Which metals in the reactivity series will react with acid?
Those above hydrogen
What is the general equation for a neutralisation reaction?
Base + acid → salt + water
What is the general equation for the reaction between metal carbonate and acid?
Metal carbonate + acid → salt + water + carbon dioxide
What is the general equation for the reaction between metal oxides and acids?
Metal oxide + acid → a salt + water
What is a redox reaction?
A reaction where both oxidation and reduction occurs.
Exam Tip
REDOX are simultaneous reactions as they occur at the same time in the same reaction.
Explain in terms of gain or loss of electrons which species has been oxidised and which species has been
reduced when magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid
Magnesium has lost electrons and thus has been oxidised (Mg to Mg2+)
The hydrogen in HCl has gained electrons and thus has been reduced (H+ to H2)
How is a soluble salt formed?
a) React the excess acid with some insoluble chemical (e.g. metal oxide)
b) Filter off the leftovers
c) Crystallise the product
What do acids and alkalis produce in aqueous solutions?
Acids produce hydrogen ions, alkalis produce hydroxide ions
What are bases, acids and alkalis?
Bases are chemicals that neutralise acids producing salt and water. Bases are usually metal oxides and metal hydroxides. eg are Copper Oxide (insoluble in water), Iron (III) Hydroxide (insoluble in water) and Sodium Hydroxide (soluble in water)
Alkalis are bases which are soluble in water. eg Sodium Hydroxide (soluble in water). In aqueous solutions alkalis produce hydroxide ions (OH-)
What is the pH scale and what does a pH of 7 show?
The pH scale is a numerical scale which is used to show how acidic or alkaline a solution is, as it is a measure of the amount of the hydrogen ions present in solution.
It goes from 0 to 14. From 0 - 6 acids; 7 neutral; above 7 alkali
State the general equation for a neutralisation reaction in a short, ionic form.
H+(aq) + OH− (aq)→ H2O(l)
What is a strong acid? What is a weak acid?
Strong acid is completely ionised (split) in aqueous solution; weak acid is only partially ionised in aqueous solution
What happens to pH as concentration of H+ increases?
As the pH scale decreased by 1 unit, the concentration of hydrogen ions increases by 10 times.
What is a concentrated acid and what is a diluted acid? Is this the same as a strong and weak acid?
- Concentrated acid has more moles of acid per unit volume than dilute (dilute refers to solutions of low concentrations)
- It is not the same - concentration is not the same thing as strength of an acid.
- Strength refers to whether the acid is completely ionised in water (strong) or only partially (weak).
What does the concentration of acids tell us?
Amount of acid molecules in a given volume of solution. A diluted acid has fewer acid molecules in a given volume than a concentrated acid even if the strenght of the acid is the same
As the pH is decreased by one unit, what change is seen in the hydrogen ion concentration?
Increases by a factor of 10
Name the following salts: LiNO3, K2CO3, MgBr2,
BaSO4
Lithium nitrate
Potassium carbonate
Magnesium bromide
Barium sulfate
What is electrolysis?
The passing of an electric current through ionic substances that are molten or in solution to break them down into elements; ions are discharged (they lose/gain electrons) at electrodes to produce these
What is an electrolyte?
The liquid/solution which conducts electricity
What is a cathode and what is an anode?
Cathode is the negative electrode, anode is the positive electrode
What occurs at the cathode and what occurs at the anode during electrolysis?
Reduction occurs at the cathode
Oxidation occurs at the anode
In aqueous electrolysis, which element is discharged at the cathode? Oxygen is produced at the anode unless what?
The less reactive element discharges at the cathode. Hydrogen is produced unless there is a less reactive metal, in which case the said metal is produced. Oxygen is produced at the anode unless the solution contains halide ions, in which case halogen molecules are produced.
How is aluminium manufactured? Why is it expensive?
Aluminium is made through the electrolysis of aluminium oxide and cryolite.
Lots of energy is needed to produce the current in electrolysis which makes this process expensive.
What are the half equations in the extraction of aluminium?
Al3+ + 3 e− → Al (cathode)
2 O2− → O2 + 4 e− (anode)
Oxygen reacts with C of the anode producing CO2.