Scribd
Upload
17 views6 pages

Lecture 13

The document discusses oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. It defines oxidation as the loss of electrons and reduction as the gain of electrons. Examples of redox reactions are provided, along with rules for assigning oxidation numbers to help classify reactions as redox. Disproportionation reactions are introduced, where a single molecule both oxidizes and reduces to form multiple products. Key terms like oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and examples of each are outlined.

Uploaded by

provanowrin5
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
17 views6 pages

Lecture 13

The document discusses oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. It defines oxidation as the loss of electrons and reduction as the gain of electrons. Examples of redox reactions are provided, along with rules for assigning oxidation numbers to help classify reactions as redox. Disproportionation reactions are introduced, where a single molecule both oxidizes and reduces to form multiple products. Key terms like oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and examples of each are outlined.

Uploaded by

provanowrin5
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Lecture: 13

Introduction to Chemistry (CHE 101)


Basics in chemistry

INSTRUCTOR:
HUMAYRA HABIB
B.S, M.S (MICROBIOLOGY)
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Reactions

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) reactions are electron transfer reactions which are


considered to be a part of everyday life. They range from the burning of fossil fuel to the action of household bleach.
Also, most metallic and non-metallic elements are obtained from their ores by either oxidation or reduction reactions.
Many (but not all) important redox reactions take place in aqueous systems.

Oxidation reaction: Half-reaction that refers to loss of electron/electrons

Reduction reaction: Half-reaction that refers to gain of electron/electrons

Example 1: When metallic zinc is added to a solution containing copper (II) sulfate
(CuSO4) the blue colour of the solution disappears due to the following redox reaction:
The definition of oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer can be applied for ionic compounds only. It
cannot, however, be applied for the formation of molecular compounds like HCl and SO2 (covalent compounds).
Let us consider the reactions:

H 2 (g) + Cl2 (g) = 2HCl(g)


S(s) + O2 (g) = SO2 (g)

These reactions are considered as redox reactions, because experiments show that there is partial transfer of
electrons from H to Cl in HCl and from S to O in SO2. It is, therefore, convenient to define oxidation and reduction in
terms of Oxidation Number.
Oxidation Number (ON)
It is the number charge assigned on an element or a species (elements, ions or molecules)
during its loss or gain of electron.
- For the loss of an electron = a positive Oxidation

- For the gain of an electron = a negative ON is obtained

Oxidation: An increase of ON indicates oxidation. Hydrogen and sulfur in reactions (01)


and (02) have been oxidized.

Reduction: Decrease of ON indicates reduction. Chlorine and oxygen in reactions (01)


and (02) have been reduced.

Remember- the sum of ON of the atoms in a molecule is always zero, because


Rules of assigning Oxidation Number (ON) to elements
Oxidation numbers are bookkeeping numbers. They allow chemists to do things such as balance redox (reduction/oxidation) equations.
Oxidation numbers are positive or negative numbers, but don’t confuse them with positive or negative charges on ions or valances.

Oxidation numbers are assigned to elements using these rules:

Rule 1: The oxidation number of an element in its free (uncombined) state is zero — for example, Al(s) or Zn(s). This is also true for elements
found in nature as diatomic (two-
atom) elements H2, O2, N2, Cl2, Br2

Rule 2: The oxidation number of a monatomic (one-atom) ion is the same as the charge on the ion, for example:
Na +1= +1, S2- = -2

Rule 3: The sum of all oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero. The sum of all oxidation numbers in a polyatomic (many-atom) ion is
equal to the charge on the ion. This rule often allows chemists to calculate the oxidation number of an atom that may have multiple oxidation
states, if the other atoms in the ion have known oxidation numbers.

Rule 4: The oxidation number of an alkali metal (IA family) in a compound is +1; the oxidation number of an alkaline earth metal (IIA family) in a
compound is +2.

Rule 5: The oxidation number of oxygen in a compound is usually –2. If, however, the oxygen is in a class of compounds called peroxides (for
example, hydrogen peroxide), then the oxygen has an oxidation number of –1. If the oxygen is bonded to fluorine, the number is +1.

Rule 6: The oxidation state of hydrogen in a compound is usually +1. If the hydrogen is part of a binary metal hydride (compound of hydrogen
and some metal like LiH, NaH, CaH2), then the oxidation state of hydrogen is –1.

Rule 7: The oxidation number of fluorine is always –1. Chlorine, bromine, and iodine usually have an oxidation number of –1, unless they’re in
combination with an oxygen or fluorine.
TASK: Assign ON to all the elements in the following compounds and ion:

(i) Li2O, (ii) HNO3, (iii) Cr2O72- (iv) MnO4

Disproportionation is a chemical reaction, typically a redox reaction, where a molecule is transformed


into two or more dissimilar products. In a redox reaction, the species is simultaneously oxidized and
reduced to form at least two different products.
Consider the following skeleton reaction which takes place in acidic medium:

In this reaction MnO4 (purple color) acts as an oxidizing agent in acidic solution and itself is reduced to Mn2+ (pale
pink to colorless). Iron (II) (pale green) is oxidized to Fe3+ (pale yellow to colorless).
Oxidising agents
- are electron rich species
- oxidized other but reduced itself
Example: All non- metals (except inert gas), F2, Cl2, Br2, I2, O2, HNO3,
Conc.H2SO4, KMnO4, K2Cr2O7, etc

Reducing agents
- are electron-deficient species
- oxidized itself but reduced other
Example: All metals, Hydrogen, carbon, CO, H2S, SO2, Oxalic acid (H2C2O4),
SnCl2.

You might also like