CLASS 11th

Redox Reactions
 Redox Reactions

01. Introduction
There are some more reactions in which oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously. Such
reactions are called redox reactions.

02. Classical Idea of Redox Reactions – Oxidation and Reduction Reactions

Oxidation involves
(i) Addition of oxygen or
(ii) Addition of electronegative element or
(iii) Removal of hydrogen or
(iv) Removal of electropositive element

Example (i) 2K4[Fe(CN)6] + H2O2 → 2K3[Fe(CN)6] + 2KOH

Reducing agent or Reductant

Whenever any substance is oxidised, another substance is always reduced at the same time. In
other words, the oxidation-reduction reactions always occur simultaneously.

Example Oxidation

Fe2O3 + 2Al Al2O3 + 2Fe

(Oxidising (Reducing
agent) agent)

Reduction

04. Redox Reactions in Terms of Electronic Concept

Let us consider a redox reaction :
Reduction

2Na + Cl2 2NaCl

Oxidation
Gain of 2e−

2Na + Cl2 2Na+ + Cl−

Loss of 2e−

NOTE ☞ In short
Oxidation/Reducing agent – loss of electron
Reduction/oxidising agent – gain of electron

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 Redox Reactions

05. Competitive Electron Transfer Reactions

Place a strip of metallic zinc (Zn) in an aqueous solution of copper nitrate Cu(NO3)2 for
about one hour,

Now, above reaction may be written as :

Oxidation

Zn(s) + Cu2+(s) Zn2+(s) + Cu(s)

Gain of 2e−(reduction)
Let us now extend the electron transfer reaction to copper metal and silver nitrate (AgNO3)
solution.
Loss of e−(Oxidation)

Cu(s) + 2Ag+(aq) Cu2+(aq) + 2Ag(s)

Gain of e−(reduction)

Oxidation (Loss of e−)

Co(s) + Ni2+(aq) Co+2(aq) + Ni(s)

Gain of e−(reduction)
In this case neither the reactants, Co(s) and Ni2+(aq) nor the products, Co2+(aq) and Ni(s) are
greatly favoured. Therefore, the electron-releasing tendency of these three metals is in the
order. Zn > Cu > Ag

06. Oxidation Number

The oxidation number is defined as the charge which appears on an atom of the element
when all other atoms attached to it are removed in the form of their ions. Oxidation number
is also called oxidation state.

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 Redox Reactions

07. Oxidation and Reduction in Terms of Oxidation Number

Oxidation is a chemical change in which there is an increase in oxidation number. On the
other hand, reduction is a chemical change in which there is a decrease in the oxidation
number.

Example +4 0 0 +3
3MnO2 + 4Al 3Mn + 2Al2O3
Here, MnO2 is reduced and Al is oxidised. Thus, Al acts as a reducing agent and
MnO2 acts as an oxidising agent.

08. Types of Redox Reactions

Combination Reaction
The chemical reactions in which two or more substances combine to form a single substance
are called combination reactions.

Example 0 0 +2 −3
3Mg + N2 Mg3N2

Decomposition Reaction
The chemical reactions in which a compound breaks up into two or more simple substances
are called decomposition reactions.

Example +1+5 −2 −1 0
∆
2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2

Displacement Reactions
The reactions in which one ion of a compound is replaced by an ion of the other
element are called displacement reactions.
XY → X + ZY
The displacement reactions are of two types :
(i) Metal displacement reaction
In these reactions, a metal in the compound is displaced by some other metal in the
elemental state.

Example +5 0 0 +2 −2
V2O5 + 5Ca 2V + 5CaO2

(ii) Non-metal displacement reactions

The non-metal displacement redox reactions are mainly hydrogen displacement or
oxygen displacement reactions.

Example 0 +1 −2 +1 −2 +1 0
(i) 2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2

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 Redox Reactions

Disproportionation Reaction
A reaction in which the atom of same element is simultaneously oxidised as well as reduced
is called a disproportionation reaction.

Example 2H2+1O2-1(aq) → 2H2+2O-2(I) + O20(g)

09. The Paradox of Fractional Oxidation States

In certain compounds, the oxidation number of a particular element is in fraction and it is not
a whole number.
(i) Carbon Suboxide (C3O2) :
-2 +2 0 +2
O
-2 = C = C = C = O
     
The average oxidation number of carbon atoms is   
 

10. Balancing of Redox Reactions

(i) Oxidation number method
(ii) Ion-electron method or half-equation method

Example Balance the equation

Mg + HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + N2O + H2O

0 +5 +2 +5 +1
Solution Step-1, 2: Mg + HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 +N2O + H2O

O.N. decreases by 4 unit

(Hence total change in O.N.= 4 ×2)

0 +5 +2 +1
Mg + HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 +N2O + H2O
Step-3 :
O.N. increases by 2

Step-4 : Mg equation is multiplied by 4 and HNO3 equation is multiplied by 2.

Now, 4Mg + 2HNO3 → 4Mg(NO3)2 + N2O + H2O
Step-5 : Balance all atoms other than O and H
4Mg + 10HNO3 → 4Mg(NO3)2 + N2O + H2O
Step-6 : 4Mg + 10HNO3 → 4Mg(NO3)2 + N2O + 5H2O

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 Redox Reactions

11. Redox Reactions as the Basis of Titrations

In redox systems, the titration method can be adopted to determine the strength of a
reductant/oxidant using a redox-sensitive indicator.
(i) Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)
MnO4− + 8H+ + 5e− → Mn+2 + 4H2O
[Fe+2 → Fe+3+e-] × 5

MnO4− + 5Fe+2 + 8H+ → Mn+2 + 5Fe+3 + 4H2O

(ii) Acidified Potassium dichromate

Cr2O72− + 14H+ + 6e−→ 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

(iii) Iodine (I2)

I2 + 2e− → 2I−
I2(aq) + S2O32−(aq) → 2I−(aq) + S4O62−(aq)

12. Limitation of Concept of Oxidation Number

According to the concept of oxidation number, oxidation means increase in oxidation number
by the loss of electrons while reduction implied decrease in oxidation number by the gain of
electrons.

13. Redox Reactions and Electrode Processes

When a zinc rod is placed in Cu(NO3)2 solution, a redox reaction occurs. During this
reaction, Zn is oxidised to Zn2+ ions are reduced to Cu by direct transfer of electrons from
Zn to Cu2+ ions. Here the chemical energy of the reaction evolves as heat.

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 Redox Reactions

Function of salt bridge

(i) To complete the circuit.
(ii) To maintain electrical neutrality in the solutions of both the half-cells.
(iii) To prevent intermixing of the solutions of both the half cells.

“The tendency of an electrode to lose or gain electrons is called electrode potential”

14. Application of Electrochemical Series

(i) Activity of metals: Lower the standard reduction potential value higher will be the
activity of metal as it will have higher tendency to lose electrons
e.g., Li > K > Na > Zn > Fe.
(ii) Predicting feasibility of a redox reaction
(iii) Calculation of EMF of the cell

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 Redox Reactions

JEE Main Pattern

Exercise (1)

1. Number of moles of MnO–4 required to oxidise one mole of ferrous oxalate completely in acid
medium will be:
(a) 7.5 moles
(b) 0.2 moles
(c) 0.6 moles
(d) 0.4 moles

2. Oxidation number of iodine in IO–3, IO–4, KI and I2 respectively are:

(a) –1, –1, 0, +1
(b) +3, +5, +7, 0
(c) +5, +7, –1, 0
(d) –1, –5, –1, 0

3. Freshly prepared, bright blue coloured solution of sodium in liquid ammonia can be used to reduce
the organic functional moieties. In this, the actual reducing species is:
(a) [Na(NH3)n]+
(b) [H2(NH3)n]
(c) [NaNH2(NH3)n]
(d) [e(NH3)n]–

4. Oxidation number of sulphur in S8, S2F2 and H2S are:

(a) +2, 0, +2
(b) 0, +1, –2
(c) –2, 0, +2
(d) 0, +1, +2

5. Number of moles of K2Cr2O7 that can be reduced by 1 mole of Sn2+ ions is:

(a) 


(b) 


(c) 


(d) 


6. The oxidation states of sulphur in Caro’s and Marshall’s acid are:

(a) +6, +6
(b) +4, +6
(c) +6, –6
(d) +6, +4

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7. In the chemical reaction,

K2Cr2O7 + xH2SO4 + ySO2 → K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3
+ zH2O
the value of x, y and z respectively are:
(a) x = 1, y = 3, z = 1
(b) x = 4, y = 1, z = 4
(c) x = 3, y = 2, z = 1
(d) x = 2, y = 2, z = 2

8. When methane is burnt in oxygen to produce CO2 and H2O, the oxidation number changes by:
(a) –8
(b) zero
(c) +8
(d) +4

9. In the redox reaction:

xMnO + yPbO2 + zHNO3 → HMnO4 + Pb(NO3)2 + H2O
(a) x = 2, y = 5, z = 10
(b) x = 2, y = 7, z = 8
(c) x = 2, y = 5, z = 8
(d) x = 2, y = 5, z = 5

10. Hydrazine reacts with KIO3 in presence of HCl as;

N2H4 + IO–3 + 2H+ + Cl– → ICl + N2 + 3H2O
The equivalent masses of N2H4 and KIO3 respectively are:
(a) 8, 87
(b) 8, 35.6
(c) 16, 53.5
(d) 8, 53.5

ANSWER
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5
(d) (c) (d) (b) (a)
Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10
(a) (a) (c) (a) (d)

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 Redox Reactions

JEE Advanced Pattern

Exercise (1)

1. The reaction of white phosphorus with aqueous NaOH gives phosphine along with another
phosphorus containing compound. The reaction type; the oxidation states of phosphorus in
phosphine and the other product are respectively:
(a) redox reaction; –3 and –5
(b) redox reaction; +3 and +5
(c) disproportionation reaction; –3 and +5
(d) disproportionation reaction; –3 and +3

2. The oxidation number of nitrogen atoms in NH4NO3 are:

(a) +3, +3
(b) +3, –3
(c) –3, +5
(d) –5, +3

3. In the ionic equation:

xCH3CH2OH + yI2 + zOH– → CHI3 + HCO–2 + I– + H2O
(a) x = 1, y = 4, z = 6
(b) x = 1, y = 6, z = 4
(c) x = 1, y = 8, z = 12
(d) x = 1, y = 8, z = 8

4. Match the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the given codes:
List-I List-II
(Compound) (Oxidation state of nitrogen)
(a) N2O5 (i) –2
(b) NaN3 (ii) +5
(c) NO (iii) –1/3
(d) N2H4 (iv) +2

5. Which of the following have been arranged in order of decreasing oxidation number of sulphur?
(a) H2S2O7 > Na2S4O6 > Na2S2O3 > S8
(b) SO2+ > SO2–4 > SO2–3 > HSO–4
(c) H2SO5 > H2SO3 > SCl2 > H2S
(d) H2SO4 > SO2 > H2S > H2S2O8

6. Reduction of the metal centre in aqueous permanganate ion involves:

(a) 3 electrons in neutral medium
(b) 5 electrons in neutral medium
(c) 3 electrons in alkaline medium
(d) 5 electrons in acidic medium

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7. Match the Column-I with Column-II:

Column-I Column-II
(Compound) (Oxidation state of)
(a) CrO5 (i) Oxygen is –2
(b) Na2S2O3 (ii) Oxygen is –1
(c) H2SO5 (iii) Sulphur is +6
(d) H2S2O7 (iv) Sulphur is +2

8. The value of n in the molecular formula BenAl2Si6O18 is:

9. How many oxyanions among the following show disproportionation?

CIO–, CIO–2, CIO–3, CIO–4

Passage
10. Valency and oxidation number are different for an element. Valency of carbon is generally 4,
however, the oxidation state may be –4, –2, 0, +2, –1, etc. In the compounds containing carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen, the oxidation number of carbon can be calculated as:
  
Oxidation number of carbon = 
 
where, nH, nO and nC are number of respective atoms.

I. Which of the following compounds have zero oxidation state at carbon?

(a) C6H12O6
(b) HCOOH
(c) HCHO
(d) CH4

II. Which of the following oxides of carbon has fractional oxidation state?
(a) Carbon monoxide
(b) Carbon dioxide
(c) Carbon suboxide
(d) All of these

III. Which of the following compound of carbon has highest oxidation state?
(a) CH4
(b) CH3OH
(c) CH2O
(d) HCOOH

IV. Oxidation state of carbon in diamond is:

(a) zero
(b) +1
(c) –1
(d) +2

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V. In which of the following compounds, the valency of carbon is two?

(a) Carbenes
(b) Allenes
(c) Alkenes
(d) Ketenes

ANSWER
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5
(d) (c) (a) (a) - ii (a), (c)
(b) - iii
(c) - i
(d) - i
Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10
(a), (d) (a) - i , ii n = 3 4 I. (a)
(b) - i , iv II. (c)
(c) - i , ii , iii
III. (d)
(d) - i , iii
IV. (a)
V. (a)

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