Oxidation Number

Oxidation number (oxidation state)

is the charge the atom would have
in a molecule (or an ionic
compound) if electrons were
completely transferred.
(Chang, Goldsby, 11th Ed)
Oxidation numbers of any atoms can be
determined by applying the following rules:

1. For monoatomic ions,

oxidation number = the charge on the ion

Example: ion oxidation number

Na+ +1
Cl – -1
Al3+ +3
S2– -2
2
2. For free elements, oxidation number on each
atom = 0
Example: Atom/molecule oxidation number
Na 0
O2 0
Br2, P4,S8 0
3. For most cases, oxidation number for;

O = -2
H = +1
Halogens : F, Cl, Br, I = -1
Exception:

1. H bonded to metal

Example: NaH, MgH2

oxidation number for H = -1

2. Halogen bonded to oxygen

Example: Cl2O7

oxidation number for halogen = +ve

4
3. In a neutral compound
The total oxidation number of each atoms that
made up the molecule is zero.

Example : Determine the oxidation number of

iodine, I in NaIO3

Total oxidation no. = +1 + I + 3 (-2) = 0

I = +5
4. The oxidation number of polyatomic ions

The total oxidation number of each atoms that

made up the ion is equal to the net charge of
the ion.

Example : Determine the oxidation number of

chromium, Cr in Cr2O72-

Total oxidation no. = 2Cr + 7(-2) = -2

Cr = +6
Exercise 1

1. Determine the oxidation number of N in the

following species :
(a) NH3
(b) N2O4
(c) NO3-
(d) N2

2. Determine the oxidation number of:

(a) S in SO32-
(b) As in AsO43-
(c) Br in BrO3-
(d) As in As2S3
(e) Cr in Cr(OH)3
 ANSWER
1. Determine the oxidation number of N in the following species :
Compound Oxidation number
a NH3 -3
b N2O4 +4
c NO3- +5
d N2 0

2. Determine the oxidation number of:

Compound Oxidation number
a S in SO32- +4
b As in AsO43- +5
c Br in BrO3- +5
d As in As2S3 +3
e Cr in Cr(OH)3 +3
Balancing Chemical Equation

Chemical equation denotes a chemical reaction :

xA + yB  zC + wD
(reactant) (product)

x, y, z, and w = stoichiometric coefficients

 Two methods of balancing chemical
equation:

a) Inspection b) Ion-electron
method method

10
 Inspection Method

1. Write down the unbalanced equation.

Write the correct formulae for the
reactants and products.

2. Balance element/atom
i. Balance the metallic element,
followed by non-metallic
atoms.

ii. Balance the hydrogen and oxygen

atoms.

3. Check to ensure that the total number of

atoms of each element is the same on
Example 1 start with C
C2H6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

2 C atom 1 C atom 2 H atoms

6 H atoms
C2H6 + 7 O2 2 CO2 + 3 H2O
2
7 O atoms
2C2H6 + 7 O2 4 CO2 + 6 H2O
Reactants Products
4C 4C
12 H 12 H
14 O 14 O
Exercise 2 :

Balance these equations.

(a) Al(s) + O2(g)  Al2O3(s)
(b) N2(g) + H2(g)  NH3(g)
(c) C6H6(l) + O2(g)  CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Answer :

(a) 4Al(s) + 3O2(g)  2Al2O3(s)

(b) N2(g) + 3H2(g)  2NH3(g)

(c) C6H6(l) + 15/2 O2(g)  6CO2(g) + 3H2O(l)

@
(c) 2C6H6(l) + 15O2(g)  12CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)
Example 2 Balance pure elements such as Al.

Al + H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + H2

1 Al atom 2 Al atoms
Balance polyatomic ions as a unit

2 Al + 3H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + 3 H2

6 H atoms 1 SO42- ions 3 SO42- ions 3 H atoms

Balance H.
Reactants Products
2 Al 2 Al
6H 6H
3S 3S
12 O 12 O
Exercises 3:

Balance the following chemical equation :

1. Fe2O3 + HCl FeCl3 + H2O

2. NH3 + CuO Cu + N2 + H2O

3. C2H5OH + O2 CO2 +
H2O

4. AgNO3 + Na2CrO4 Ag2CrO4 + NaNO3

5. Al2(SO4)3 + KOH Al(OH)3 + K2SO4

Answer

Balance the following chemical equation :

1. Fe2O3 + 6HCl 2FeCl3 + 3H2O

2. 2NH3 + 3CuO 3Cu + N2 + 3H2O

3. C2H5OH + 3O2 2CO2 +

3H2O

4. 2AgNO3 + Na2CrO4 Ag2CrO4 + 2NaNO3

5. Al2(SO4)3 + 6KOH 2Al(OH)3 + 3K2SO4

Oxidation Number and Redox Reaction
Redox reaction is a reaction that involves
both reduction and oxidation reactions.

Oxidation Reduction
An increase in A decrease in
oxidation number oxidation number
Loss of electrons Gain of electrons

OIL - Oxidation Is the Loss of electrons

RIG - Reduction Is the Gain of electrons

Redox equations

reduction
reducing
0 agent -1
Cl2 + 2KBr 2KCl + Br2
-1 0
oxidising
agent
oxidation
reduction
reducing +2
+7
agent
MnO4- + 8H++ 5Fe2+ Mn2++ 5Fe3++ 4H2O
+2 +3
oxidising
agent
oxidation
EXAMPLE 3: Balance the chemical equation in acidic
solution using the Ion–electron Method /
Half – Reaction Method

Fe2+ + Cr2O72–  Fe3+ + Cr3+

 Oxidation

Fe2+ + Cr2O2–  Fe3+ + Cr3+

Reduction
STEPS:

1. Separate the equation into two half reactions.

Oxidation : Fe2+  Fe3+

Reduction : Cr2O72–  Cr3+
2. Balance the atoms other than O and H in each
half- reaction.

Fe2+  Fe3+ (no change)

Cr2O72–  2Cr3+

3. Add H2O to balance O atom.

Add H+ to balance H atoms.

Cr2O72–  2Cr3+ + 7H2O

14H+ + Cr2O72–  2Cr3+ + 7H2O

4. Add e- to one side of each half-reaction to
balance the charges on the half-reaction.

Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-
+2 +3 –1

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72–  2Cr3+ + 7H2O

+ 14 –2 +6
–6
5. Multiply each half-reaction by an integer, so
that number of electron lost in one half-reaction
equals the number gained in the other.

Fe2+  Fe3+ + e- X 6

6Fe2+  6Fe3+ + 6e-

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72–  2Cr3+ + 7H2O

6. Combine the two half-reactions and cancel out the
species that appear on both sides of the equation.

Oxidation: 6Fe2+  6Fe3+ + 6e-

Reduction: 6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72–  2Cr3+ + 7H2O

14H+ + Cr2O72– + 6Fe2+  6Fe3+ + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

7. Check that the number of atoms and the charges

are balanced.

Left side Right side

(14 x 1) + ( – 2) + (6 x 2) = 24 = (6 x 3) + (2 x 3)
Example 4
Reduction
(acidic solution)
MnO4- + Fe2+  Mn2+ + Fe3+
Oxidation
Answer

Reduction : MnO4-  Mn2+

MnO4-  Mn2+ + 4H2O
MnO4- + 8H+  Mn2+ + 4H2O
-1 +8 = +7 2 +0 = +2

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e-  Mn2+ + 4H2O

 Oxidation : Fe2+  Fe3+
+2 +3
Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-

Balance the electron

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e-  Mn2+ + 4H2O

Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-
5(Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-)

5Fe2+  5Fe3+ + 5e-

Combine two half-equations

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e-  Mn2+ + 4H2O

5Fe2+  5Fe3+ + 5e-
MnO4- + 5Fe2+ + 8H+  Mn2+ + 5Fe3+ + 4H2O

-1 + 10 + 8 = +17 +2 + 15 + 0 = +17

 Check for net charge and atoms

For Basic Solutions

Follows the steps in acidic medium followed

by these additional steps;

1. Add to both sides of the equation the same

number of OH- as there are H+  to eliminate
ALL H+
2. Combine H+ and OH- to form H2O.
3. Cancel any H2O that you can.
Example 5
(Reduction)

MnO4- + C2O42-  MnO2 + CO32- (basic solution)

(Oxidation)
Answer
Reduction : MnO4-  MnO2

MnO4- + 4H+  MnO2 + 2H2O

-1 + 4 = +3 0

MnO4- + 4H+ + 3e-  MnO2 + 2H2O

Oxidation : C2O42-  CO32-
C2O42-  2CO32-
C2O42- + 2H2O  2CO32- + 4H+

-2 -4 +4 = 0

C2O42- + 2H2O  2CO32- + 4H+ + 2e-

2(MnO4- + 4H+ + 3e-  MnO2 + 2H2O)
3(C2O42- + 2H2O  2CO32- + 4H+ + 2e-)

2MnO4- + 8H+ + 6e-  2 MnO2 + 4H2O

2 4
3C2O42- + 6H2O  6CO32- + 12H+ + 6e-

2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 2H2O  2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+

 Check for net charge and atoms

 -
2MnO4 + 3C2O42- + 2H2O  2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+
- +
Add the same number of OH as H on both sides of equation
- -
2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 2H2O + 4OH 2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+ + 4OH

4H2O
- - 2-
2MnO4 + 3C2O42- + 2H2O + 4OH  2 MnO2 + 6CO3 + 4H2O
2

2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 4OH-  2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 2H2O

 Keep in mind Balancing Redox equation

MnO4- + C2O42-  MnO2 + CO32-

Separate the equation into two half reaction (Oxidation and Reduction)

Balance atoms other than O and H

Add H2O to balance O atoms and add H+ to balance H atoms

Add electron to balance charge

Combine two half-reactions and cancel out the species that appear on
both sides of the equation.
2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 2H2O  2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+

Acidic medium Basic medium

Finished

Add 4OH- on both side

2MnO4- + 3C2O42- + 4OH-  2 MnO2 + 6CO32- + 2H2O

Exercise 4

Balance the following redox equation :

1. Zn(s) + H+(aq)  Zn2+(aq) + H2(g)

2. S2O32- + I2  S4O62- + I-

3. C2O42- + MnO4-  CO2+ Mn2+

(acidic solution)
4. Cr2O72- + Fe2+ + H+  Cr3++ Fe3+ + H2O

5. CrO2- + ClO-  CrO42- + Cl-

(basic solution)
 Answer

Balance the following redox equation :

1. Zn(s) + 2H+(aq)  Zn2+(aq) + H2(g)

2. 2S2O32- + I2  S4O62- + 2I-

3. 5C2O42- + 2MnO4- + 16H+(aq)  10CO2 + 2Mn2+

(acidic solution)
+ 8H2O
4. Cr2O72- + 6Fe2+ + 14H+  2Cr3++ 6Fe3+ + 7H2O

5. 2CrO2- + 3ClO- + 2OH-  2CrO42- + 3Cl- + H2O

(basic solution)
Quantitative study of reactants How to “read”
chemical equations
and products in a chemical
reaction.
Example 6

2 Mg(s) + O2 (g) 2 MgO (s)

2 Mg atoms reacts with 1 O2 molecule to
forms 2 formula units of MgO
2 mol Mg reacts with 1 mol O2 to forms 2
mol MgO
48.6 g Mg reacts with 32.0 g O2 to forms
80.6 g MgO
 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO(s)
[Ar O = 16.0, Mg = 24.3],
1 mol of gas occupies a volume of 22.4 dm3 at STP ]
i. How many moles of MgO result from the
complete reaction of 3.4 mol of O2 ? Assume
there is more than enough Mg.
Mole-to-Mole Conversions
mol O2 mol MgO
From eq:
1 mol of O2 produce 2 mol of MgO
3.4 mol of O2 produce 3.4 mol O2
 2 mol MgO
1 mol O2
= 6.8 mol MgO
 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO(s)
ii. How many grams of MgO form when 20.0 g of
Mg reacts completely with O2 ?

Mass-to-Mass Conversions

mol Mg mol MgO

g of Mg g MgO
20.0 g
Moles of Mg =
24.3 g mol-1

= 0.823 mol
 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO(s)
From eq:

2 mol of Mg produce 2 mol of MgO

0.823 mol of Mg produce 0.823 mol Mg

 2 mol MgO
2 mol Mg

= 0.823 mol MgO

Mass of MgO formed = 0.823 mol  40.3 g mol-1

= 33.17 g
 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO(s)
iii. How many moles of O2 gas are used when
40.0 g of MgO formed ? Determine the gas
volume at STP
Mass-to-gas volume Conversions

mol MgO mol O2

g of MgO V O2

40.0 g
Moles of MgO =
40.3 g mol-1

= 0.9926 mol
 2 Mg(s) + O2(g)  2 MgO(s)
From eq:
2 mol of MgO equivalent to 1 mol of O2
0.9926 of MgO equivalent to 0.9926 mol MgO
 1 mol O2
2 mol MgO

= 0.4963 mol O2

At STP : 1 mol of O2 occupied 22.4 L

0.4963 mol of O2 occupied 0.4963 mol O2  22.4 L
1 mol O2 (g)
= 11.12 L
Volume of O2 = 11.12 L
LIMITING REACTANT
Reactant that is completely consumed in a
reaction and limit the amount of products formed.

 Reactants used up first in a reaction

 Determine the amount of products formed
 The Cheese Sandwich Analogy

reactants

A slices of cheese
2 slices of Bread
Cheese Sandwich
The Cheese Sandwich Analogy

3 slices of cheese
Excess
Reactant: Limiting reactant:
bread reactants cheese

9 slices of Bread
product
 xA + yB  zC + wD
reactants products
Determining Limiting Reactant
Stoichiometric Method
1. Write complete equation
2. Calculate moles of reactants, A and B.
3. Calculate amount of reactant B required
to react completely with reactant A
4. Compare the amount of B required
(needed) with that available in the system.

If B (available) < B(needed)

B = limiting reactant
If B (available) > B(needed)
B = excess reactant  A = limiting reactant
Example 7:
H2 (g) + F2 (g)  2HF (g)
Initial amount: 3 mol 2 mol 4 mol

Determine the limiting reactant:

From the equation,
1 mol of H2 needs 1 mol of F2
3 mol of H2 needs 3 mol H2 x 1 mol F2

1 mol H2

= 3 mol F2 (needed)
 H2 (g) + F2 (g)  2HF (g)

Initial amount: 3 mol 2 mol 4 mol

mole of F2 needed (3 mol) > mole of F2 given (2 mol)

 Limiting reactant = F 2

Excess reactant = H2
Example 8 :

For the following reaction :

2NH3(g) + 3CuO(s)  N2(g) + 3Cu(s) + 3H2O(l)
18.0 g NH3 and 90.0 g CuO are allowed to
react.
[Ar Cu = 63.6, H = 1.0, N = 14.0, O = 16.0]

(a) Determine the limiting reactant.

(b) Calculate the mass of N2 gas formed.
(c) Determine the mass of the excess
reactant remain after the completion of
the reaction.
Answer

(a) Determine the limiting reactant.

n 18.0 g
= = 1.059 mol (given)
NH3
17.0 g mol-1

n 90.0 g
CuO = = 1.131 mol (given)
79.6 g mol-1
 2NH3(g) + 3CuO(s)  N2(g) + 3Cu(s) + 3H2O(l)
From eq:
2 mol NH3 react with 3 mol CuO

1.059 mol NH3 react with 1.059 mol NH3  3 mol CuO
2 mol NH3
= 1.5885 mol CuO (needed)

mole of CuO needed (1.5885 mol ) > mole of CuO given(1.131 mol)

 CuO is the limiting reactant

(b) Calculate the mass of N2 gas formed.

Limiting reactant limits the amount of product formed

2NH3(g) + 3CuO(s)  N2(g) + 3Cu(s) + 3H2O(l)

[ Tips: compare limiting reactant with product ]
From eq:
3 mol of CuO produce 1 mol N2

1.131 mol of CuO produce 1.131 mol CuO

 1 mol N2
3 mol CuO

= 0.377 mol N2

Mass of N2 formed = 0.377 mol  28 g mol-1

= 10.56 g
(c) Determine the mass of the excess reactant remain
after the completion of the reaction.

Only the limiting reactant

is completely consumed

2NH3(g) + 3CuO(s)  N2(g) + 3Cu(s) + 3H2O(l)

From eq:

3 mol of CuO react with 2 mol of NH3

1.131 mol CuO
1.131 mol of CuO react with  2 mol NH3
3 mol CuO

= 0.754 mol NH3 (reacted)

Mass of NH3 reacted = 0.754 mol  17 g mol-1

= 12.818 g

 Mass of NH3 remained = (18 - 12.818)g

= 5.182 g
 PERCENTAGE YIELD
 The amount of product predicted by a balanced
equation is the theoretical yield
 The theoretical yield is never obtain because:
1. The reaction may undergo side reaction
2. Many reaction are reversible
3. There may be impurities in the reactants
4. The product formed may react further to form
other product
5. It may be difficult to recover all of the product from
the reaction medium
 The amount product actually obtained in a
reaction is the actual yield 57
Percentage yield is the percent of the actual
yield of a product to its theoretical yield

actual yield
% yield  x 100
theoretical yield

58
Example 9 :
SK016

If 3.7 g sodium metal (Na) and 4.3 g

chlorine gas (Cl2) react to form NaCl,
what is the theoretical yield? If 5.5 g
NaCl was formed, what is the
percentage yield?
Answer 1
Initial mole:
Mass of Na 3.7 g
Mole of Na = =
Molar mass of Na 23.0 g/mol
= 0.16 mol Na (given)

Mass of Cl2 4.3 g

Mole of Cl2 = =
Molar mass of Cl2 71.0 g/mol

= 0.061 mol Cl2 (given)

From the equation: 2Na(s) + Cl2(g)  2NaCl(s)

2 mol of Na react with 1 mol Cl2

0.16 mol of Na react with 0.16 mol Na x 1 mol Cl2

2 mol Na
= 0.08 mol Cl2 (needed)

mole of Cl2 needed (0.08 mol) > mole of Cl2 given (0.061 mol)

Cl2 is limiting reactant

 2Na(s) + Cl2(g)  2NaCl(s)

1 mol of Cl2 produce 2 mol NaCl

0.061 mol of Cl2 produce 0.061 mol Cl2 x 2 mol NaCl

1 mol Cl2
= 0.122 mol NaCl (needed)

Mass of NaCl = n NaCl x Molar mass of NaCl

= 0.122 mol x 58.5 g/mol

= 7.137 g NaCl (theoretical yield)

 Actual Yield
% Yield = x 100
Theoretical Yield

5.5 g
= x 100
7.137 g

= 77.0 %
PURITY OF SAMPLES

Percentage mass of a specified substance in impure

sample.

Mass of (pure) substance

Purity of samples = x 100
Mass of (impure) sample
Example 10 :

A sample of impure magnesium was analysed by

allowing it to react with excess HCl solution. After 2.95
g of the impure metal was treated with 0.15 L of 0.75
M HCl, 0.0514 mol of HCl remained. Calculate the
percentage of Mg in the sample.
 Answer

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) 
MgCl2 + H2 (g)

Mol HCl = (0.75molL-1) x 0.15 L = 0.1125 mol

Mol HCl reacted with Mg = 0.1125 – 0.0514 = 0.0611 mol
From the equation;
2 mol of HCl react with 1 mol Mg
0.0611 mol HCl react with 0.0306 mol Mg

Mass of Mg = 0.0306 mol x 24.3 gmol-1 = 0.744 g

% mass of Mg = (0.744g/2.95g) x 100% = 25.2%