Ch.

5 Oxidation-Reduction
Reactions

Brady & Senese,

5 Ed.
th

1
Index

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron

transfer
5.2. The ion-electron method creates balanced net
ionic 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
one from its compounds
5.5. Molecular oxygen is a powerful oxidizing
agent
5.6. Redox reactions follow the same stoichiometric
principles as other reactions
5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer 2
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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

Your Turn!

What is the oxidation number of F atoms in F2O?

A. +1
B. +2
C. +3
D. +4
E. none of these

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer 8

Your Turn!

What is the oxidation number of P in H3PO3?

A. +1
B. +2
C. +3
D. +4
E. none of these

5.1. Oxidation-reduction reactions involve electron transfer 9

Your Turn!

What is the oxidation number of O atoms in H2O2?

A. -1
B. -2
C. -3
D. -4
E. 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 ion–electron 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 ion–electron 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 ion–electron 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 ion–electron 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- )×1
 ( Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s) )×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 ion–electron 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) +
H2 O + 2 H +

5.2 The ion–electron 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 ion–electron 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. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. none of these

5.2 The ion–electron 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. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. none of these

5.2 The ion–electron 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