At the end of this chapter, student

should be able to:

• Determination of oxidation number
• OXIDATION NUMBER
5.1

• Definition and examples of agents of oxidation and reduction

• OXIDATION
• REDUCTION
5.2 • OXIDISING AGENT
• REDUCING AGENT

• Balancing redox equations in acidic and basic medium

• REDOX REACTION
5.3
5.1 Oxidation State or Oxidation Number
 Oxidation state (O.S.) or oxidation number (O.N.)
refers to the number of electrons transferred, shared,
or otherwise involved in the formation of the
chemical bonds in a substance

 It is actually a positive or negative number assigned to

an atom or ion to show it is bonded to another
element in a substance
 Use the following rules to assign oxidation numbers:

(a) For free elements (that is, in the uncombined state), each
atom has an oxidation number of zero, eg metals – Mg, Na, K,
non-metal – C, Cl2,H2
(b) For ions composed of only one atom, the oxidation number is
equal to the charge on the ion, eg: bromide ion, Br- = -1,
aluminium ion, Al3+ = +3
(c) For hydrogen, the O.N. can be assigned as follows:
Hydrogen + non-metal  covalent hydride
Eg: HCl, H2O,NH3,H2SO3, O.N = +1
Hydrogen + metal  ionic hydride
Eg: LiH, NaH, KH, MgH2, O.N = -1
(d) For oxygen, the O.N can be assigned as follows:
 the O.N. of O in oxides is -2
Eg: Na2O, BaO, H2O
 the O.N of O in peroxides and superoxides is -1
Eg: Na2O2, BaO2, H2O2
 If O combines with a more electronegative atom (e.g. a
fluorine atom, F) to form a compound, the O.N. of O in the
compound is +2, eg: F2O

(e) For elements in Group lA, llA and Aluminium, the assignment of
O.N can be carried out as follows:
 All alkali metals (group lA) have O.N of +1, eg:Na2O
 All alkaline earth metals (Group llA) have O.N. of +2,
eg BeCl2
 Aluminium has O.N of +3, eg: AlCl3
(f) For fluorine and Group Vll elements, the O.N can be assigned as
follows:
 fluorine has an oxidation number of -1 in all its
compounds.
 other halogens (Cl, Br, and l) have negative oxidation
numbers when they occurs as halide ions in their
compounds
 when combined with oxygen, for example in HClO4,
ClO3-, BrO3-, The O.N of halogen is positive
(g) The sum of the O.N (O.N) of all the atoms must be zero in a
neutral molecule or ionic compound. In a polyatomic ion, the sum
of O.N of all the atoms must be equal to the net charge of the ion.
Example:

(1) Find the oxidation number of C in Na2CO3

(2) Find the oxidation number of Mn in MnO4-

5.2 Oxidation
 An oxidation process is a half-reaction that involves
releases of electrons

 In oxidation reaction, the oxidation number of one

or more elements increases

 In all of these oxidation reactions, the oxidation

number of the material is increased by the release of
electrons
Example:

(a) Na - e  Na+

Oxidation Release 1 Oxidation

number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
=0 = +1

Oxidation number
increases
Example:

(b) Sn2+ - 2e  Sn4+

Oxidation Release 2 Oxidation

number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= +2 = +4

Oxidation number
increases
Example:

(c) S2- - 2e  S

Oxidation Release 2 Oxidation

number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= -2 =0

Oxidation number
increases
5.3 Reduction
 A reduction process is that involves gain of electrons

 In this reduction reaction, the oxidation number of

one or more elements decreases

 In all of these reduction reactions, the oxidation

number of the material is decreased by the
accepting electrons
Example:

(a) Fe3+ + 1e  Fe2+

Oxidation Accept 1 Oxidation

number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
= +3 = +2

Oxidation number
decreases
Example:

(b) Cl + e  Cl-

Oxidation Accept 1 Oxidation

number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
=0 = -1

Oxidation number
decreases
Example:

(c) Zn2+ + 2e  Zn

Oxidation Accept 2 Oxidation

number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= +2 =0

Oxidation number
decreases
5.4 Oxidising Agent
 An oxidising agent is a substance that oxidises other
substances while it itself is being reduced in an
oxidation-reduction reaction
 An oxidising agent oxidises by accepting electrons
donated by the reducing agent and its O.N
decreases.
 Examples
Cl2 + 2e  2Cl-
 Cl2 is an oxidising agent because it accepts electrons and its O.N
decreases from 0 to -1
5.5 Reducing Agent
 A reducing agent is a substance which reduces other
substances while it itself is being oxidised in a redox
reaction

 A reducing agent reduces by giving away electrons to

the oxidising agent ant its O.N increases

 Examples
 Na - e  Na+
 Na is a reducing agent because it releases an electron and its
O.N increases from 0 to +1
5.6 Redox or Reduction Oxidation Reaction
 An oxidation-reduction reaction consists of two
half-reactions, that is
 the oxidation half-reaction in which electrons are lost
 the reduction half-reaction in which electrons are gained

 In a redox reaction, the oxidation state of the

reducing agent increases while that of the oxidising
agent decreases Oxidation – reducing
 Examples: agent

2Fe3+ + Sn2+  2Fe2+ + Sn4+

Reduction – oxidising
agent
 Balancing Redox Equations
 Some equations for oxidation-reduction reactions
can be easily balanced by inspection

 However, it is often easier to balance the oxidation-

reduction reactions by the half-reaction method

 This method is based on the principle that all the

electrons ‘lost’ in an oxidation half-reaction must be
‘gained’ in a reduction half-reaction
The following procedure is followed
to balance redox equation:
1. Divide the equation into two ½ equation
2. Balance metal/non-metal (except O2 & H2)
3. Balance oxygen by adding H2O
4.Balance hydrogen by adding H+
5. Balance electron
6.Combine the equation
 1. Balance metal/non-
Eg 1: Balance the redox reaction given below metal
2. Balance oxygen
Cr2O72- + Cl-  Cr3+ + Cl2 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron

reduction oxidation
Reduction
Cr2O72-  2Cr3+
1 O = 1 H2O
2 O = 2 H2O
Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
1 H = 1 H+
2 H = 2 H+
14H+ + Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O

X + 14H+ + Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O

x + 14(1) + 1 (-2) = 2(3) + 7(0)
For reduction Remember:
x + 14 -2 = 6+0
X at the left x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
side x + 12 = 6
get positive it is INCORRECT
x =-6
 X + 14H+ + Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O

x=-6
 6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O

Half reaction for reduction is balance

 1. Balance metal/non-
metal
2. Balance oxygen
Cr2O72- + Cl-  Cr3+ + Cl2 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron

oxidation
Oxidation
Cl-  Cl2
TIPS:
2Cl-  Cl2 O X (SO X AT THE
RIGHT SIDE)

2Cl-  Cl2 + X For oxidation X at the right side

2 (-1) = 1 (0) + X
-2 = 0 +x
Remember:
x =-2 x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
get positive it is INCORRECT
 2Cl-  Cl2 + X

x=-2

 2Cl-  Cl2 + 2e

Half reaction for oxidation is balance

 Combine the 2 half reaction

6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O reduction

+
3 (2Cl- Cl2 + 2e ) = 6Cl-  3Cl2 + 6e oxidation

6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 6e

14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2

14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2
Verify by checking the net equation to ensure that
electric charge are balanced for the both side

14(1) + 1(-2) + 6(-1) = 2(+3) + 7(0) + 3(0)

14 -2 -6 = 6+0+0
6 = 6
If in basic solution

- Balance the equation as if the reaction were occurring in acidic

medium, by using the method for acidic aqueous solutions
- To both sided of the overall equation obtained, add a number of
OH- that is equal to the number of H+ ions
- On the side of the overall equation containing both H+ and OH-
ions, combine them to form H2O molecules

14H+ + 14OH- + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-

14H2O + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-

7H2O + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl-  2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-

 1. Balance metal/non-
Example 2: metal
2. Balance oxygen
NO3- + H2SO3  SO42- + NO 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance elec tron
TIPS:
reduction oxidation Lose hydrogen in reaction– oxidation
Adding oxygen in reaction - reduction
Reduction
NO3-  NO
1 O = 1 H2O
2 O = 2 H2O
4H+ + N O3-  NO + 2H2 O
1 H = 1 H+
2 H = 2 H+

X + 4H+ + NO3-  NO + 2H2 O

x + 4(1) + 1 (-1) = 1(0) + 2(0)
x + 4 -1 = 0+0
For reduction Remember:
X at the left x+3 = 0 x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
side x =-3 get positive it is INCORRECT
 X + 4H+ + NO3-  NO + 2H2 O

x=-3
 3e + 4H+ + NO3-  NO + 2H2 O

Half reaction for reduction is balance

 1. Balance metal/non-
metal
2. Balance oxygen
NO3- + H2SO3  SO42- + NO 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron

oxidation
Oxidation TIPS:
H2 S O3  S O42- O X (SO X AT THE
RIGHT SIDE)

H2 S O3 + H2 O  S O42- + 4H+

For oxidation X at the right side

H2 S O3 + H2 O  S O42- + 4H+ + X
1 (0) + 1(0) = 1 (-2) + 4(+1) + X
0 = -2 + 4 + X
Remember:
0 = +2 + X x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
get positive it is INCORRECT
x = -2
 H2SO3 + H2O  SO42- + 4H+ + X
x=-2

 H2 SO3 + H2 O  SO42- + 4H+ + 2e

Half reaction for oxidation is balance

 Combine the 2 half reaction

2(3e + 4H+ + NO3-  NO + 2H2 O) reduction

+
3(H2 SO3 + H2 O  SO42- + 4H+ + 2e) oxidation

6e + 8H+ + 2NO3- + 3H2 SO3 + 3H2 O  2NO + 4H2O + 3SO42- + 12H+ + 6e

2NO3- + 3H2SO3  2NO + H2O + 3SO42- + 4H+

2NO3- + 3H2 SO3  2NO + H2O + 3SO42- + 4H+
Verify by checking the net equation to ensure that
electric charge are balanced for the both side

2(-1) + 3(0) = 2(0) + 1(0) + 3(-2) + 4(+1)

-2 +0 = 0 + 0 -6 + 4
-2 = -2