Unit 1 - Redox Flashcards
How do metal displacement reactions occur?
When a metal higher up in the electrochemical series displaces a metal in solution which is lower than itself.
What is reduction?
A gain of electrons by something
What is oxidation?
A loss of electrons by something
What is a reducing agent?
Something that allows reduction to take place
What is an oxidising agent?
Something that allows oxidation to take place
What happens to a reducing agent?
It is oxidised
What happens to an oxidising agent?
It is reduced
In a redox reaction what takes place at the same time?
Oxidation and reduction
What are good oxidising agents?
Things with high electronegativity
What are good reducing agents?
Things with low electronegativity
How do elements with low electronegativities tend to form ions?
By losing electrons (oxidation)
How do elements with high electronegativities tend to form ions?
By gaining electrons (reduction)
When combining reduction and oxidation equations to form a redox equation what MUST be the same number?
The electrons must be equal, equations can be multiplied to make this happen
Where are the oxidising agents in the electrochemical series?
The top - they will be reduced so things with high electronegativity will do this well
Where are the reducing agents in the electrochemical series?
The bottom - they will be oxidised so things with low electronegativity will do this well
