IB HL Redox 1

1 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons.

2 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of loss/gain of hydrogen/oxygen.

3 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation state (oxidation number).

4 Determine the oxidation states of all elements in the following species:

P4 SO2 SO3 SO42- HCl HClO3 ClO4- KMnO4 C2H5Cl
Ca CrO42- Cr2O72- H2O2 BaO2 LiH LiAlH4 Na2S2O3 S4O62-

5 Name the following molecules/ions/compounds using oxidation states/numbers:

SO2 SO3 Cr2O72- FeCl2 CuSO4 KMnO4 NaClO4 Cu2O Fe2(SO4)3

6 Explain whether each of the following involves oxidation, reduction or neither:

2Cl- → Cl2 + 2e- Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu

The conversion of Mn2O3 to MnO2 The conversion of CH3CH2OH to CH3CHO

The conversion of CH3CH2CHO to CH3CH2COOH

7 Explain which of the following equations represent Redox reactions

I2(s) + 2OH-(aq)  I-(aq) + OI-(aq) + H2O(l)
SO42-(aq) + H2O(l)  HSO4-(aq) + OH-(aq)
Fe + Cu2+  Fe2+ + Cu
C2H2 + 2H2  C2H6
2CrO42- + 2H+  Cr2O72- + H2O

8 Balance the following half-equations in neutral solution:

Ni2+(aq) + e- → Ni(s)
Br-  Br2
H2O → H2 + OH-

9 Balance the following half-equations in acidic solution:

Cr2O72- + H+ + e-  Cr3+ + H2O
MnO4- → Mn2+
CH3CH2OH → CH3CHO

10 Write balanced redox reactions from each pair of half equations

2IO3-(aq) + 12H+(aq) + 10e-  I2(aq) + 6H2O(l)

2I-(aq)  I2(aq) + 2e-

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

CH3CH2OH + H2O → CH3COOH + 4H+ + 4e-

© SMO SMOsNotes.com
IB HL Redox 2

11 Balance the following redox equations:

MnO4-(aq) + H+(aq) + Fe2+(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + H2O(l) + Fe3+(aq)
MnO4-(aq) + H+(aq) + C2O42-(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
I2(aq) + S2O32-(aq)  I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq)

12 Define the terms oxidising agent and reducing agent.

13 Identify the oxidising and reducing agents in the equations in 11.

14 Explain whether A or Q is more reactive given the equation A(s) + Q2+(aq)  A2+(aq) + Q(s)

15 Complete the following table by predicting whether a ‘reaction’ or ‘no reaction’ will occur in
each case and write an ionic equation for each reaction.
ZnSO4(aq) MgCl2(aq) CuSO4(aq)
Zinc
Magnesium
copper

16 Solve redox titration problems involving iron(II) and manganate(VII)

MnO4-(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 5Fe3+(aq)
(a) 25.00 cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid was added to 25.00 cm3 of a solution of iron(II)
sulfate. This was then titrated against 0.02000 mol dm -3 potassium manganate(VII).
22.50 cm3 of KMnO4 was required to be added to the mixture to give the first
permanent pink colour. Calculate the concentration of the original iron(II) sulfate
solution.

(b) Five iron tablets are dissolved in about 100 cm3 of 1.0 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid and the
solution is made up to a total volume of 250 cm3 with distilled water. 25.0 cm3 of the
iron(II) solution is titrated with 0.0100 mol dm-3 potassium manganate(VII) solution
until the first permanent pink colour is seen. 11.60 cm3 of KMnO4 was required.
Calculate the mass of iron (in mg) in 1 tablet.

17 Solve redox titration problems involving sodium thiosulfate and iodine

I2(aq) + 2S2O32-(aq) → 2I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq)
(a) 25.00 cm3 of iodine solution is pipetted into a conical flask. 0.100 mol dm -3 sodium
thiosulfate solution is added until the mixture becomes pale yellow. Starch indicator is
added and the titration continued until the reaction mixture becomes colourless. The
total volume of sodium thiosulfate solution required was 21.50 cm 3. Calculate the
concentration of the iodine solution.
(b) x g of potassium iodate(V) is dissolved in distilled water and made up to a total
volume of 250.0 cm3. 25.00 cm3 of this solution is pipetted into a conical flask and 20
cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid added – this is excess. Excess potassium iodide
solution is added to the reaction mixture and the liberated iodine titrated against sodium
thiosulfate solution. 25.30 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm-3 sodium thiosulfate is required for the
titration. Determine the value of x.
IO3-(aq) + 5I-(aq) + 6H+(aq) → 3I2(aq) + 3H2O(l)

© SMO SMOsNotes.com
IB HL Redox 3

18 Calculate BOD from titrations using the Winkler Method

2Mn(OH)2(s) + O2(aq) →2MnO(OH)2(s)
MnO(OH)2(s) + 4H+(aq) →Mn4+(aq) + 3H2O(l)
Mn4+(aq) + 2I−(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + I2(aq)
I2(aq) + 2S2O32−(aq) → S4O62-(aq) + 2I− (aq)
(a) The Winkler method was used to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a
sample of water. Manganese(II) sulfate, sulfuric acid and potassium iodide were added
to 50.0 cm3 of the water. The iodine that was formed was titrated against a sodium
thiosulfate solution with a concentration of 2.00x10−3 mol dm−3. It was found that 17.40
cm3 of sodium thiosulfate was required for the titration.
Another sample of water from the same source was incubated for 5 days at 20 °C. At
the end of the incubation the Winkler method was used to determine concentration of
dissolved oxygen. It was found that the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample
was 3.50 ppm.
Calculate the concentration of dissolved oxygen (in ppm) in the original sample and the
biochemical oxygen demand.

(b) The Winkler method was used to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a
sample of water. Manganese(II) sulfate, sulfuric acid and potassium iodide were added
to 25.0 cm3 of the water. The iodine that was formed was titrated against a sodium
thiosulfate solution with a concentration of 1.00x10−3 mol dm−3. It was found that 22.30
cm3 of sodium thiosulfate was required for the titration.
Another sample of water from the same source was incubated for 5 days at 20 °C. At
the end of the incubation the Winkler method was used to determine concentration of
dissolved oxygen. It was found that the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample
was 2.80 ppm.
Calculate the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the original sample and the
biochemical oxygen demand.

19 Explain the connection between biochemical oxygen demand and the degree of pollution of a
water sample.

20 (a) Draw a labelled diagram showing a voltaic (Galvanic) cell made up of Zn/Zn2+ and
Cu/Cu2+ half-cells. Labelling should include the anode, cathode, positive and negative
electrodes and show the direction of electron flow in the external circuit and the
direction of ion flow in the solutions.
(b) Write half-equations for the reactions at each electrode
(c) Write the overall redox reaction that occurs in the cell.
(d) State whether the overall reaction that occurs is exothermic or endothermic.

21 Explain the purpose of the salt bridge in a voltaic (Galvanic) cell.

22 State the energy conversion that occurs in a voltaic cell.

23 Explain what is meant by the term standard electrode potential and standard cell potential

24 Describe, with the aid of a labelled diagram, the standard hydrogen electrode

25 Write the half-equation for the standard hydrogen electrode and state the value of the
standard electrode potential.
© SMO SMOsNotes.com
IB HL Redox 4

26 Explain, with the aid of a diagram, how the standard electrode potential for Cu2+/Cu could be
measured

27 State the significance of the fact that the standard electrode potential for a Cu2+/Cu half-cell
is positive but that for a Zn2+/Zn half-cell is negative.

28 For each of the following cells

 calculate the cell potential,
 write an overall equation for the reaction that goes on in the cell
 state which is the positive and which the negative electrode
 identify the anode and cathode
 state which way electrons flow in the external circuit
 state which way ions flow in the salt bridge
Ni2+(aq) + 2e-  Ni(s) Ag+(aq) + e-  Ag(s)
Zn2+(aq) + 2e-  Zn(s) Sn2+(aq) + 2e-  Sn(s)
I2(s) + 2e-  2I-(aq) Fe3+(aq) + e-  Fe2+(aq)
Cl2(g) + 2e-  2Cl-(aq) Cl2(g) + 2e-  2Cl-(aq)
29 For each of the cells in 28 write the cell diagram using the cell diagram convention

30 Explain using electrode potentials below whether the reactions below will be spontaneous or
not
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 6Fe3+(aq)
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6Br-(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 3Br2(l)
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6F-(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 3F2(g)

31 Given the electrode potentials below select the strongest reducing agent and the strongest
oxidising agent.
U4+ + e-  U3+ Eo = -0.61 V
Eu3+ + e-  Eu2+ Eo = -0.43 V
Ho3+ + e-  Ho Eo = -2.32 V
Ce4+ + e-  Ce3+ Eo = +1.61 V
Pu4+ + e-  Pu3+ Eo = +0.97 V

32 Using the values in 31 explain whether the following are true or false:
(a) Eu3+ will oxidise Pu3+
(b) U3+ will reduce Ce4+
(c) Pu4+ will oxidise U3+

33 For each of the following reactions calculate the cell potential and G and predict whether
the reaction is spontaneous.
(a) Mn(s) + Sn2+(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + Sn(s)
(b) 1/
2Br2(l) + Fe2+(aq) → Br-(aq) + Fe3+(aq)
(c) Br2(l) + 2Fe2+(aq) → 2Br-(aq) + 2Fe3+(aq)
(d) MnO4-(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 5Fe3+(aq)
(e) 2MnO4-(aq) + 16H+(aq) + 10F-(aq)  2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O(l) + 5F2(g)

© SMO SMOsNotes.com