Ch.

5 Oxidation-Reduction
Reactions

Brady &
th
Senese, 5 Ed.
1

Index
5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron tra
nsfer
5.2. The ion-electron method creates balanced net ioni
c equations for redox reactions
5.3. Metals are oxidized when they react with acids
5.4. A more active metal will displace a less active o
ne from its compounds
5.5. Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent
5.6. Redox reactions follow the same stoichiometric p
rinciples as other reactions
5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Oxidation Reduction Reactions

Involve two processes:
Oxidation the loss of electrons, and
Reduction the gain of electrons

Ca(s) + 2 H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s) + H2(g)

Oxidizer = Oxidizing agent = received the electrons
Reducer = Reducing agent = donated the electrons

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Guidelines For Redox Reactions

Oxidation and reduction always occur together
Total number of e- lost by one substance is the
same as the total number of e- gained by the other
For a redox reaction to occur, something must
accept the e- that are lost by another substance

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Oxidation Numbers
Oxidation number:

of any free element is zero

of any simple, monoatomic ion is equal to the charge on
the ion
of fluorine in its compounds is 1
of hydrogen in its compounds is +1
of oxygen in its compounds is -2

the sum of all oxidation numbers of the atoms in a

molecule or polyatomic ion must equal the charge
on the particle

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Special Rules
If there is a conflict between two rules apply the rule
with the lower number and ignore the conflicting rule
In binary ionic compounds with metals, the nonmetals
have oxidation numbers equal to the charges on their
anions
Note that fractional values of oxidation numbers are
allowed

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Assign Oxidation States To All Atoms:

Fe2O3
O: -2; Fe: +3

Na2CO3
Na: +1; O: -2; C: +4

V(OH)3
O: -2; H: +1; V: +3

K2Cr2O7
K: +1; O: -2; Cr: +6

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Your Turn!
What is the oxidation number of F atoms in F2O?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

+1
+2
+3
+4
none of these

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Your Turn!
What is the oxidation number of P in H3PO3?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

+1
+2
+3
+4
none of these

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

Your Turn!
What is the oxidation number of O atoms in H2O2?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

-1
-2
-3
-4
none of these

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer

10

Balancing Redox Reactions: Ion-Electron

Method
1. Identify the half-reactions
2. Balance each atom in the half reaction,
saving H and O for last
3. Balance O by adding 1 water molecule for
each needed O
4. Balance H by adding 1 H+ ion for each
needed H

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

11

Balancing Redox Reactions: (Cont.)

5. Balance charges by adding electrons to the
more positive side
6. Find the least common multiple of electrons for
the two half- reactions. Multiply each reaction
by the factor needed to achieve the LCM of
electrons
7. Add the half reactions, canceling like
substances that appear on both sides

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

12

Balancing Basic Reactions

The simplest way to balance reactions in basic
solution is to first balance them as if they were in
acidic solution, then convert to basic solution
Additional Steps for Basic Solutions
8) To both sides of the equation, add the same
number of OH- ions as there are H+.
9) Combine H+ and OH- to form H2O
10) Cancel H2O molecules that are on both sides of
the reaction.

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

13

Balance, Using the Ion-Electron Method

MnO4- + C2O42- MnO2 + CO32(MnO4- + 4H+ +3e- MnO2 + 2H2O )2
(C2O42- + 2H2O 2CO32- + 4H+ +2e- )3
2MnO4- + 8H+ +6e-+ 3C2O42- + 6H2O 2MnO2 +
4H2O + 6CO32- + 12H+ +6e 2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 2H2O 2MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

14

Balance, Using the Ion-Electron Method

Mn(s) + Cu2+(aq) Cu(s) + MnO2(s) (basic)
( Mn + 2H2O MnO2 + 4H+ + 4e ( Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)

)1

)2
Mn + 2H2O + 2Cu2+(aq) + 4e- MnO2 + 4H+ + 4e- +
2Cu(s)
Mn + 2H2O + 2Cu2+(aq) MnO2 + 4H+ + 2Cu(s)
Mn + 2H2O + 2Cu2+(aq) +4OH-(aq) MnO2 + 4H+ + 4OH(aq)+ 2Cu(s)
Mn + 2Cu2+(aq) +4OH-(aq) MnO2 + 2H2O (aq)+ 2Cu(s)

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

15

Balance, Using the Ion-Electron Method

H2SO3(aq) + H2CO3(aq) H2C2O4(aq) + SO42- (aq)
H2SO3(aq) + H2O SO42- (aq)+ 4H+(aq) + 2e 2 H2CO3(aq) + 2 H+ + 2e- H2C2O4(aq) + 2H2O
H2SO3(aq) + 2 H2CO3(aq) H2C2O4(aq) + SO42- (aq) + H2O
+ 2 H+

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

16

Balance, Using the Ion-Electron Method

ClO- + VO3(aq)- ClO3-(aq)+ V(OH)3(s) (basic)
ClO- + 2H2O ClO3-(aq) + 4H+ + 4e 3H+ + 2e- + VO3- (aq) V(OH)3(s)
ClO- + 2H2O + 2H+ + 2VO3- (aq) ClO3-(aq) + 2V(OH)3(s)
ClO- + 4H2O + 2VO3- (aq) ClO3-(aq) + 2V(OH)3(s) + 2OH-

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

17

Your Turn!
What is the coefficient indicated when the following
is balanced?
MnO4-(aq) + Cr (s) Cr2O72-(aq) + ? MnO2(s)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1
2
3
4
none of these

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

18

Your Turn!
What is the coefficient indicated when the following
is balanced?
? PbSO4(s) Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + H2SO4(aq)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1
2
3
4
none of these

5.2 The ionelectron method creates balanced net ionic equations for redox reactions

19

Reactions Of Metals In Non-oxidizing Acids

Metals can be replaced in a compound by hydrogen
ion when they react with acid
In this case, H+ is reduced so that the metal can be
oxidized
Only metals more active than H can undergo this
single-replacement type reaction
Cu(s) + H+ NR
Fe(s) + 2H+(aq) Fe2+(aq) + H2(g)

5.3 Metals are oxidized when they react with acids

20

Oxidizing Acids Can React Most Metals

HNO3:
(conc) NO3- + 2H+(aq) + e- NO2(g)+ H2O(l)
(dil) NO3(aq)- + 4H+(aq)+ 3e- NO(g) + 4 H2O(l)
(v.dil): NO3(aq)- + 10H+ + 8e- NH4(aq)+ + 3H2O(l)

H2SO4:
(hot, conc.) SO42- + 4H+(aq) + 3 e_ SO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
(hot, conc, with strong reducing agent)
SO4(aq)2- + 10H+(aq) + 8e- H2S(g) + 4H2O(l)

5.3 Metals are oxidized when they react with acids

21

Single Displacement (Replacement) Reaction

A + BC AC + B
Metal A can replace metal B if it is a more active
metal, or
Nonmetal A can replace nonmetal C if it is more
active than C.
An activity series arranges metals according to
their ease of oxidation (Table 5.2)

5.4 A more active metal will displace a less active one from its compounds

22

Learning Check: Metal Activity

Using the following observations, rank these
metals from most reactive to least reactive
Cu(s) + HCl(aq) no reaction
Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Mg(s) + ZnCl2(aq) MgCl2(aq) + Zn(s)
Mg > Zn > H > Cu

5.4 A more active metal will displace a less active one from its compounds

23

Activity Series

5.4 A more active metal will displace a less active one from its compounds

24

Learning Check:
Predict the Products of the Following:
Zn + CuSO4

Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq)

Cu + ZnSO4

NR

AgNO3(aq) + Cu(s)

Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2 (aq)

Solid magnesium and aqueous iron(III) chloride

Mg(s) + FeCl3(aq) MgCl2(aq) + Fe(s)
Solid nickel and aqueous sodium chloride
Nis) + NaCl(aq)
NR
5.4 A more active metal will displace a less active one from its compounds

25

Your Turn!
Which of the following will react with Cu(s)?
A. HNO3(conc)
B. ZnCl2(aq)
C. AgNO3(aq)
D. None of these

5.4 A more active metal will displace a less active one from its compounds

26

Oxygen Reacts With Many Substances

The products depend, in part, on how much oxygen
is available
Combustion of hydrocarbons
O2 plentiful; CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O
O2 limited: 2CH4 + 3O2 CO + 4H2O
O2 scant: CH4 + O2 C + 2H2O

Organic compounds containing O also produce

carbon dioxide and water
C2H5OH + 3O2 2CO2 + 3H2O

5.5 Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent

27

Other Oxygen Reactions

Organic compounds containing S produce sulfur
dioxide
2C2H5SH + 9O2 4CO2 + 6H2O + 2 SO2

Many metals corrode or tarnish when exposed to

oxygen
4Fe + 3O2 2Fe2O3
4Ag + O2 2Ag2O

Most nonmetals react with oxygen directly

Plentiful: C + O2 CO2
Limited: 2C + O2 CO

5.5 Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent

28

Learning Check: Complete the Following

Reactions
Aluminum metal and oxygen gas forms aluminum oxide
solid.
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) 2Al2O3(s)

Solid sulfur (S8) burns in oxygen gas to make gaseous

sulfur trioxide
S8 (s) + 12 O2(g) 8SO3(g)

Copper metal is heated in oxygen to form black copper(II)

oxide solid.
2Cu(s) + O2(g) 2CuO(s)
5.5 Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent

29

Your Turn!
What is the coefficient on O2 when octane, C8H18 is
combusted with scant oxygen?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. none of these
2 C8H18 + 25 O2 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

5.5 Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent

30

Your Turn!
What is the coefficient on O2 when iron combusts
with plentiful oxygen available ?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. none of these

5.5 Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent

31

Ore Analysis
A 0.3000 g sample of tin ore was dissolved in acid solution
converting all the tin to tin(II). In a titration, 8.08 mL of
0.0500 M KMnO4 was required to oxidize the tin(II) to
tin(IV). What was the percentage tin in the original sample?

3Sn 2 2MnO -4 8H 3Sn 4 2MnO 2 4H 2 O

8.08 mL 0.0500 mol MnO4

3 mol Sn2
118.71g
2

7
.
1938
(
10
)

1
1000 mL
2 mol MnO4
mol
7.1938(10 2) g
100 24.0%
0.3000 g

5.6 Redox reactions follow the same stoichiometric principles as other reactions

32

Your Turn!
A 25.0 g sample of granite contains a vein of copper.
What is the % of Cu present if 25.00 mL of
concentrated 15 M HNO3 are reacted?
Cu(s) + 2NO3-(aq) + 4H+(aq) 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + Cu2+
A. 12
B. 38
C. 48
D. 95
E. none of these
5.6 Redox reactions follow the same stoichiometric principles as other reactions

33