Oxidation No’s and Redox Half Reaction

Oxidation is defined as:

• The loss of electrons from an atom or ion.
• Also, the combination of oxygen with other substances

Reduction is defined as:

• The gaining of electrons by an atom or ion.
• Also, "reducing" a substance into its components.
Rules for assigning oxidation numbers:

• The oxidation number of a free element = 0.

• The oxidation number of a monatomic ion = charge on the ion.
• The oxidation number of hydrogen = + 1 and rarely - 1.
• The oxidation number of oxygen = - 2 and in peroxides - 1.
• The oxidation number of fluorine = - 1.
• The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion = charge on the ion.
• Elements in group 1, 2, and aluminum are always as indicated on the periodic table

Example #1:K2CO3by rule, K is + 1 by rule, O is - 2

To calculate C

The sum of all the oxidation numbers in this formula equal 0. Multiply the subscript by the
oxidation number for each element. K = (2) ( + 1 ) = + 2
O = (3) ( - 2 ) = - 6
therefore, C = (1) ( + 4 ) = + 4
Example #2:HSO4-by rule, H is + 1 by rule, O is - 2
To calculate S

The sum of all the oxidation numbers in this formula equal -1. Multiply the subscript by the
oxidation number for each element. H = (1) ( + 1 ) = + 1
O = (4) ( - 2 ) = - 8
therefore, S = (1) ( + 6 ) = + 6

Try some of these!!

1. Sb in Sb2O5 6. Cl in ClO4-
2. N in Al(NO3)3 7. B in NaBO3
3. P in Mg3(PO4)2 8. Si in MgSiF6
4. S in (NH4)2SO4 9. I in IO3-
5. Cr in CrO4-2 10. N in (NH4)2S

LEO The Lion Goes GER

Loose Electrons, Oxidize

Gain Electrons, Reduce

Oxidation and Reduction must both occur in a Redox reaction.

If one particle gains electrons in a reaction, some other particle must lose them.
 Also known as OILRIG
Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain (of e-)
Oxidation – Reduction reactions (RedOx).

Electron transfer reactions.

Oxidation – net loss of electrons

Reduction – net gain on electrons

One does not occur without the other!!!

Oxidising and Reducing Agents
• Reducing agent - the reactant that gives up electrons.
• The reducing agent contains the element that is oxidized (looses electrons).
• If a substance gives up electrons easily, it is said to be a strong reducing
agent.
• Oxidizing agent - the reactant that gains electrons.
• The oxidizing agent contains the element that is reduced (gains electrons).
• If a substance gains electrons easily, it is said to be a strong oxidizing
agent.
Cannot have oxidation without reduction: hence REDOX
Oxidizing agents get reduced.

Reducing agents get oxidized.

Practice
• Identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent in each equation:
• H2SO4 + 8HI H2S + 4I2 + 4H2O
• CaC2 + 2H2O C2H2 + Ca(OH)2
• Au2S3 + 3H2 2Au + 3H2S
• Zn + 2HCl H2 + ZnCl2
Balancing Redox Equations by the Half-reaction Method

1. Decide what is reduced (oxidizing agent) and what is oxidized (reducing agent).
• Do this by drawing arrows as in the practice problems.

2. Write the reduction half-reaction.

• The top arrow in step #1 indicates the reduction half-reaction.
• Show the electrons gained on the reactant side.
• Balance with respect to atoms / ions.
• To balance oxygen, add H2O to the side with the least amount of oxygen.
• THEN: add H + to the other side to balance hydrogen.
Remember that the arrow in step #1 indicates
the number of electrons gained by one atom.
.
MnO4- + H2SO3 + H + Mn+2 + HSO4- + H2O
3. Write the oxidation half-reaction.
• The bottom arrow in step #1 indicates the oxidation half-reaction.
• Show the electrons lost on the product side.
• Balance with respect to atoms / ions.
• To balance oxygen, add H2O to the side with the least amount of oxygen.
• THEN: add H + to the other side to balance hydrogen.
Remember that the arrow in step #1 indicates
the number of electrons lost by one atom.

MnO4- + H2SO3 + H + Mn+2 + HSO4- + H2O

4. The number of electrons gained must equal the number of electrons lost.
• Find the least common multiple of the electrons gained and lost.
• In each half-reaction, multiply the electron coefficient by a number to reach the common
multiple.
• Multiply all of the coefficients in the half-reaction by this same number.
5. Add the two half-reactions.
• Write one equation with all the reactants from the half-reactions on the left and all the
products on the right.
• The order in which you write the particles in the combined equation does not matter.

MnO4- + H2SO3 + H + Mn+2 + HSO4- + H2O

6. Simplify the equation.
• Cancel things that are found on both sides of the equation as you did in net ionic equations.
• Rewrite the final balanced equation.
Check to see that electrons, elements, and total charge are balanced.
• There should be no electrons in the equation at this time.
• The number of each element should be the same on both sides.
• It doesn't matter what the charge is as long as it is the same on both sides.
If any of these are not balanced, the equation is incorrect. The only thing to do is go back to step #1 and begin
looking for your mistake.

Redox by half reaction

As2O3(s) + NO3-(aq) 

H3AsO4(aq) + NO(g)
 Redox by half reaction
SUMMARY
The essentials of a REDOX reaction are:
(a) One or more electrons are passed from one reactant to the other.
(b) The reactant donating the electron(s) is the reducing agent, and itself
becomes oxidized.
(c) The reactant accepting the electron(s) is the oxidizing agent (or "oxidant")
and itself becomes reduced.
(d) You can not have oxidation without reduction of something else.
SUMMARY
Balancing REDOX reactions by ½ reaction method:
• Balance non-oxygen/hydrogen atoms.
• Add H2O to balance O atoms.
• Add H+ to balance H atoms in acid solution or add H2O to balance H atoms in
alkaline soln.
• In alkaline soln., add OH- to balance the excess H2O from step 3.
• Add e- to balance charges.
Practice!
• HNO3 + H3PO3 NO + H3PO4 + H2O
• Cr2O7-2 + H + + I - Cr+3 + I2 + H2O
• As2O3 + H + + NO3- + H2O H3AsO4 + NO
• CuS + NO3- Cu+2 + NO2 + S
• H2SeO3 + Br - Se + Br2
• Fe+2 + Cr2O7-2 Fe+3 + Cr+3
• HS - + IO3- I- + S
• CrO4-2 + I - Cr+3 + I2
• IO4- + I - I2
• MnO4- + H2O2 Mn+2 + O2
• H3AsO4 + Zn AsH3 + Zn+2

Homework and Resources

Many of the resources used here were obtained from:
http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/credox.htm

A highly recommended site for beginning electrochem:

Zumdahl: pg 183 # 60,61,63,65 (62,64?) Odd number exercises have answers in

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