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Chapter 9 Student Notes

This document provides information on redox reactions and how to balance redox equations. It defines redox reactions as those that involve the transfer of electrons. Redox reactions can generate electric currents or be driven by applying a current, so this area of chemistry is also called electrochemistry. The document outlines oxidation and reduction processes and introduces oxidation numbers to identify oxidizing and reducing agents. It then describes two methods for balancing redox equations: the oxidation numbers method and the half-reactions method. Steps are provided for using each method to systematically balance both elements and charge in redox reactions occurring under acidic or basic conditions.

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Neha Sharma
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views

Chapter 9 Student Notes

This document provides information on redox reactions and how to balance redox equations. It defines redox reactions as those that involve the transfer of electrons. Redox reactions can generate electric currents or be driven by applying a current, so this area of chemistry is also called electrochemistry. The document outlines oxidation and reduction processes and introduces oxidation numbers to identify oxidizing and reducing agents. It then describes two methods for balancing redox equations: the oxidation numbers method and the half-reactions method. Steps are provided for using each method to systematically balance both elements and charge in redox reactions occurring under acidic or basic conditions.

Uploaded by

Neha Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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9.

1 Redox Reactions

• Reactions which involve the transfer of electrons are oxidation-reduction or redox reactions.
• Results in the generation of an electric current (electricity) or be caused by imposing an electric current.
• Therefore, this field of chemistry is often called ELECTROCHEMISTRY.

OXIDATION

•
•

REDUCTION

•
•

OXIDIZING AGENT

•
•

REDUCING AGENT

•
•

You can’t have one… without the other!

•Reduction (gaining electrons) can’t happen without an oxidation to provide the electrons.
•You can’t have 2 oxidations or 2 reductions in the same equation. Reduction has to occur at the cost of
oxidation
LEO the lion says GER!

Loss of electrons is __________________ Gain of electrons is ________________


Ex. Recall single displacement reactions

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq)→ Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq)

Total ionic equation

___________________________________________________________

Net ionic equation ____________________________________________

This is known as a redox reaction and can be broken into two half-reactions:

Zn(s)→ Zn2+(aq) + 2e- Cu2+(aq) + 2e-→ Cu(s)

___________________ ___________________

___ loses electrons and has undergone ______________, caused by ___, the ______________ agent. ___
gains electrons and has undergone ______________, caused by ___, the ______________ agent.

Ex) Silver nitrate solution is placed in a solid zinc cup

Balanced chemical equation: _________________________________________

Ionic Equation: ____________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________

Oxidation half reaction: ______________________________________________

Reduction half reaction: _____________________________________________

• Actual or hypothetical charges, assigned using a set of rules


• Used to describe redox reactions with covalent reactants or products and to identify oxidizing and
reducing agents
Oxidation Number Rules

Rules Examples

1. A pure element has an oxidation number of zero Na(s) Br2(l) Fe(s)


( ) ( ) ( )

2. The oxidation # of an ion equals the charge of Al3+ Se2-


the ion ( ) ( )

3.The oxidation # of an ion in an ionic compound is Na2S MgO CaF2


its ionic charge ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )

4. The oxidation # of hydrogen in its compoundsis H2S H 2O MgH2


+1, except in metal hydrides, it is –1. ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )

5. The oxidation # of oxygen is usually –2, unless it is Li2O CO2 H2O2


a peroxide. (eg. H2O2) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )

6. The sum of all oxidation #s of all elements in Na2SO4 KNO3 HClO4


a compound is zero ( )( )( ) ( )( )( ) ( )( )( )

7. In covalent the more electronegative element is PCl3 CS2 N2F5


assigned an oxidation # that equals the negative ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
charge it usually has in its ionic compounds

8. The sum of all oxidation #s of all the elements NO2- SO42- Cr2O72-
in a polyatomic ion equals the charge of the ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
ion
Applying Oxidation Numbers to Redox Reactions

Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq)→ Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)

Oxidation → ____________________ in oxidation number

Reduction → ____________________ in oxidation number

Zn is ___________________, Cu2+ is _________________________

Ex) Determine whether the following reactions are redox reactions. If so, identify what is being oxidized
and reduced.

a) CH4 + Cl2→ CH3Cl + HCl

b) CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2


9.2 Balancing Redox Reactions Using Oxidation Numbers

• Most simple redox reactions can be balanced by inspection.

• For more complex reactions, we can use either of 2 methods:

1. Oxidation Numbers Method


2. Half Reactions Method

• For redox reactions the charge must also be balanced as well as each element.

Oxidation Numbers Method

1. Determine the oxidation numbers for each element in the equation and identify the elements for which
the oxidation numbers change.

2. Adjust the values of the coefficients to balance the electrons transferred.

3. Balance the rest of the equation by inspection, if necessary balance oxygen by adding H 2O.

4. If necessary, balance hydrogen by adding H+ and/or OH-.

5. Check your answer.

6. Write the balance equation.

Eg 1) NH3 + O2 NO2 + H 2O

• Redox reactions often take place in aqueous solutions, which can be acidic, basic or neutral.

 when balancing, you may need to include H2O, H+ or OH-.

Eg 2) A Redox Reaction in Acidic Solution


MnO4- + Fe2+ → Mn2+ + Fe3+

Eg 3) A Redox Reaction in Basic Solution

IO3- + C2O42- → I- + CO2


9.2 Balancing Redox Reactions: Half-Reaction Method

Steps:

1. Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions


2. Balance elements other than O and H
3. Balance each half-reaction: add H2O to balance oxygen; add H+ to balance the hydrogen (acidic conditions);
add H+ and OH- to balance the hydrogen (in basic conditions)
4. Add electrons to balance charge
5. Balance the electrons (charge)
6. Add the equations together
7. Check your answer

Ex) ClO4- + NO2→Cl- + NO3- (acidic conditions)

Ex) ClO- + CrO2-→ Cl2 + CrO42- (basic conditions)

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