Unit 13: Redox & Electrochemistry

Outline and Objectives

Topic Reading* Video Lesson**

13.1 – Oxidation States None 13.1
13.2 – Oxidation-Reduction Half-Reactions p. 596-599 13.2
13.3 – Voltaic Cells p. 617-619 13.3
13.5 – Electrolytic Cells p. 629-633 13.5
The topics may not be covered in the same order they are presented here. Check the course website to see
exactly what lesson will be covered each day.

*The readings are accessed through the course website. Use the reading to complete the guided notes.

**The video lessons are access through the course website. Fill out the guided notes as you watch the video
lesson – YOU ARE FINISHED ONCE WHEN THE NOTES ARE FILLED UP TO THE “WARM UP” BOX! DO NOT
COMPLETE THE PRACTICE PROBLEMS!

To earn full homework credit, complete the guided notes (both from the reading and video lesson), scan them,
save them as a single file, and upload them into the assignment on Jupiter Ed before you come to our virtual
class reviewing that lesson. The assignment name will always be Lesson X.X – Notes.

Unit Objectives – Students will be able to:

 Determine the oxidation state of an element in any compound (Lesson 13.1)

 Identify oxidation as the loss of electrons and reduction as the gain of electrons (Lesson 13.1)
 Write oxidation and reduction half-reactions (Lesson 13.2)
 Identify the oxidizing and reducing agent in a redox reaction (Lesson 13.2)
 Determine if a redox reaction will occur spontaneously using Reference Table J (Lesson 13.2)
 Label the parts of a voltaic cell (Lesson 13.3)
 Write complete, balanced redox reaction (Lesson 13.3)
 Determine the voltage of a voltaic cell (Lesson 13.3)
 Calculate the value of G for voltaic cells (Lesson 13.3)
 Label the parts of an electrolytic cell (Lesson 13.5)
 Explain how electrolytic cells are used in the real world (Lesson 13.5)
 Describe the process of electroplating and why it is used (Lesson 13.5)
 Explain electroplating is and how it is used in the real world (Lesson 13.5)
Answer Key for Unit 13 Practice Problems
Take the time to check your work! If there is a question you don’t know how to solve, the full solution guide
can be found on the course website.

Q1a) NaNO3, Na = +1, N = +5, O = -2 g) N2, N = 0 (uncombined element)

b) CH4, C = -4, H = +1 h) K2SO4, K = +1, S = +6, O = -2
c) ZnO, Zn = +2, O = -2 i) Ba3(PO4)2, Ba = +2, P = +5, O = -2
d) H2O, H = +1, O = -2 j) NH3, N = -3, H = +1
e) CaH2, Ca = +2, H = -1 k) H2O2, H = +1, O = -1
13.1 f) CO2, C = +4, O = -2 l) OF2, O = +2, F = -1

Q2a) +5, nitric acid d) +3, chlorous acid g) +6, chromate

b) +3, phosphorous tribromide e) +6, calcium sulfate h) +6, dichromate
c) +6, sulfur trioxide f) +3, nitrous acid i) +5, phosphate

13.2 Check website for answers

13.3 Check website for answers

13.1 – Oxidation States No Reading
Aim: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Oxidation: Reduction:

_______ the lion says _______

What does the oxidation state/number actually tell us about a compound?

Ionic Compounds Covalent Compounds

Determining Oxidation States: What is the oxidation state of each atom?

KMnO4

oxidation state: ______ oxidation state: ______ oxidation state: ______

total charge: ______ total charge: ______ total charge: __________

_____________ + _____________ + _____________ = _____________

1. Assign __________________________________ to the elements that have only _________ possible value.
2. ______________ the ________________ of the element by its ___________________________ to find the
______________ contributed by that element.
3. The molecule is ___________________ - make sure all charges _________________________. When
working with an ion, the overall charge should ________________ the charge of the __________.
Helpful Hints!
▪ Pure ___________________ elements have an oxidation state of zero (i.e. _______________________)
▪ The more ________________________ element will have the ___________________ oxidation state

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Reactions

▪ Involves a change in ___________________________________________
▪ ___________________ are _____________________ from one element to another
▪ _________________ and ________________ will always come in_____________
 Lesson 13.1

Warm-Up: Painters are employed year-round to paint the cables,

towers and supports on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Why?

Demonstration: Oxidation States of Manganese

In _______________, Mn has an oxidation state of _________ and the solution is ________________.

In _______________, Mn has an oxidation state of _________ and the solution is ________________.

In _______________, Mn has an oxidation state of _________ and the solution is ________________.

The color of the solution changes as Mn ____________________ (gets _____________________).

Practice Problems:

1. Provide the chemical formula and determine the oxidation state of each element in the compound.

a. Sodium nitrate g. Nitrogen

b. Methane h. Potassium sulfate

c. Zinc oxide i. Barium phosphate

d. Water j. Ammonia

e. Calcium hydride k. Hydrogen peroxide

f. Carbon dioxide l. Oxygen difluoride

2. Provide the oxidation state of the bold, underlined element in the compound or ion. Try to name them!

a. HNO3 d. HClO2 g. CrO42-

b. PBr3 e. CaSO4 h. Cr2O72-

c. SO3 f. HNO2 i. PO43-

13.2 – Half-Reactions p. 596 – 599

Oxidation: Reduction:

Example Reaction: Example Reaction:

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Reaction:

When the _______________________ of two elements change, a ______________ reaction has occurred.

Half-Reaction:

Try it out…do the following equations represent redox reactions? (Assign oxidation states to each element)

Reaction Redox? Explanation

a. 2KNO3  2KNO2 + O2

b. H2 + CuO  Cu + H2O

c. NaOH + HCl  NaCl + H2O

d. H2 + Cl2  2HCl

e. SO3 + H2O  H2SO4

In problem b, which element is oxidized? ____________ Which element is reduced? ____________

Write the oxidation and reduction half reactions:

Oxidation Half-Reaction: Reduction Half-Reaction:

Something I don’t understand or still have questions about:

 Lesson 13.2
Aim: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Warm Up: In oxidation half-reactions, are electrons products or reactants? In reduction half-reactions?
Explain your answers.

Zn (s) + CuCl2 (aq) → ZnCl2 (aq) + Cu (s)

1. Assign _____________________________ to each element
2. Note which ____________________________ have changed.
3. Electrons are lost → _______________, electrons are gained → _______________

Element Oxidized: Element Reduced:

Half-Reactions: reactions that show either the oxidation of reduction of an element

Ox. Half-Reaction: Red. Half-Reaction:

In oxidation half-rxns, electrons are ______________. In reduction half-rxns, electrons are ______________.
Oxidizing Agent: _____________________________________________________________________________

Reducing Agent: _____________________________________________________________________________

***The ______________________________ is the oxidizing/reducing agent, not just the _______________.***
Oxidizing Agent: Reducing Agent:

Redox reactions occur spontaneously if: (1) _______________________________________________________

(2) __________________________________________ or (3) _________________________________________.
Reaction 1 Reaction 2

3 Mg + 2 CrBr3 → 3 MgBr2 + 2 Cr I2 + 2 KF → 2 KI + F2
Ox: Red: Ox: Red:

Ox ½ Rxn: Ox ½ Rxn:

Red ½ Rxn: Red ½ Rxn:

OA: RA: OA: RA:

Spontaneous reaction? Yes No Spontaneous reaction? Yes No

 Lesson 13.2
Practice Problems:

1. Cu + NaNO3 → Na + CuNO3 5. F2 + BaBr2 → BaF2 + Br2

Ox: Red: Ox: Red:

Ox ½ Rxn: Ox ½ Rxn:

Red ½ Rxn: Red ½ Rxn:

OA: RA: OA: RA:

Spontaneous reaction? Yes No Spontaneous reaction? Yes No

2. 3 Zn(OH)2 + 2 Al → 2 Al(OH)3 + 3 Zn 6. 3 H2 + N2 → 2 NH3

Ox: Red: Ox: Red:

Ox ½ Rxn: Ox ½ Rxn:

Red ½ Rxn: Red ½ Rxn:

OA: RA: OA: RA:

Spontaneous reaction? Yes No

3. 2 Au + 2 HCl → 2 AuCl + H2 7. 2 Al2O3 → 4 Al + 3 O2

Ox: Red: Ox: Red:

Ox ½ Rxn: Ox ½ Rxn:

Red ½ Rxn: Red ½ Rxn:

OA: RA: OA: RA:

Spontaneous reaction? Yes No Spontaneous reaction? Yes No

4. 2 NaBr + Cl2 → Br2 + 2 NaCl 8. 4 HNO3 → 4 NO2 + 2 H2O + O2

Ox: Red: Ox: Red:

Ox ½ Rxn: Ox ½ Rxn:

Red ½ Rxn: Red ½ Rxn:

OA: RA: OA: RA:

Spontaneous reaction? Yes No

13.3 – Voltaic Cells p. 617 – 620

Electrochemistry:

Redox reactions involve the transfer of __________________. If a solid zinc strip is in contact with a copper(II)
sulfate solution, the zinc strip _____________ electrons to the solution. Copper(II) ions ____________ electrons
and fall out of the solution as copper _______________. Heat is ______________ during this process.

If the substances undergoing redox are separated from one another, instead of producing heat when electrons
are transferred, ________________________ is produced. The oxidation and reduction half-reactions can be
separated by a _________________________ also called a _______________________. Only the _________
can move through the barrier, the electrons are transferred through an _________________. This flow of
electrons creates ________________ which can be harnessed and used.

Electrode:

Half-Cell:

Anode: Cathode:

The Zn ___________ electrons, which travel through the

_________ to the _______ electrode. The electrons then
______________ the Cu2+ ions to solid ________, which
deposits itself onto the electrode, causing the mass of the
cathode to __________. The Zn atoms that lost the electrons
are now _________ and dissolve into the solution, causing the
mass of the anode to _____________.

Voltaic Cells:

Two types of voltaic cells are: _____________________ and _____________________.

Something I don’t understand or still have questions about:

 Lesson 13.3
Aim: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Warm Up: What are the pros and cons of batteries?

Anode: Cathode:

Salt Bridge:

Electrons always flow ____________ from the anode and move ______________ to the cathode!

To get the full REDOX equation, _______ the half reactions Standard Reduction Potentials in
Aqueous Solutions at 25oC
making sure electrons lost ____________ electrons gained.

Ox: _____________________________________________

Red: ____________________________________________

REDOX: _________________________________________

Calculating Voltage
Use the table to the right to look up the voltages for the
oxidation and reduction half reactions. If you reverse the
direction of reaction, flip the sign of Eo.
NEVER CHANGE THE NUMERICAL VALUE OF Eo!
Plug into the formula: Ecell = Ered + Eox

Calculating Gibbs Free Energy (G)

G is calculated in _____. Express in kJ to 3 sig
Use the equation: ∆Go = –nFEo.
figs.
▪ n is the number of ___________ transferred in the
balanced redox reaction
▪ F is Faraday’s constant (______________ C/mol e-)
▪ Eo is the ______________________ of the cell
 Lesson 13.3
Practice Problems:
1. On the diagram label the electrodes, the ions in solution, the salt bridge (SB), and the flow of electrons.

Na (s)/Na+ (aq) and Fe (s)/Fe2+ (aq)

A: ½ Rxn: + or –

C: ½ Rxn: + or –

REDOX:

Voltage:
G (in kJ to 3 sig figs):

G =

Au (s)/Au3+ (aq) and Li (s)/Li+ (aq)

A: ½ Rxn: + or –

C: ½ Rxn: + or –

REDOX:

Voltage:
G (in kJ to 3 sig figs):

G =

Al (s)/Al3+ (aq) and Pb (s)/Pb2+ (aq)

C: ½ Rxn: + or –

A: ½ Rxn: + or –

REDOX:

Voltage:
G (in kJ to 3 sig figs):

G =
 Lesson 13.3
2. Draw a voltaic cell. Label: anode (with sign), cathode (with sign), flow of electrons, salt bridge, oxidation site
(and ½ rxn), reduction site (and ½ rxn), balanced REDOX equation, cell voltage, and G.

Sn (s)/Sn2+ (aq) and Ca (s)/Ca2+ (aq)

REDOX: Voltage:

G:

Ba (s)/Ba2+ (aq) and H2 (g)/H+ (aq)

REDOX: Voltage:

G:

Mn (s)/Mn2+ (aq) and Al (s)/Al3+ (aq)

REDOX: Voltage:

G:
13.5 – Electrolytic Cells p. 629 – 633

Electrolytic Cell:

There are two main differences between voltaic and electrolytic cells…

1. Electrolytic cell are connected to a _______________ or other power source. A _______________________

is a source of _______________________________.
2. In an electrolytic cell, electrical energy from an external source causes _____________________ redox
reactions. In a voltaic cell, _________________ redox reactions produce ___________________. In an
electrolytic cell, _____________ energy turns to ________________ energy; in a voltaic cell the
_______________ occurs.

Electroplating:

▪ The anode is a __________________ and the cathode is the

____________________________.
▪ Coats the object with a very _________ layer of metal.

Rechargeable Cells
▪ Combines the chemistry of both __________________ and __________________ cells.
▪ When a cell is powering a device, it is behaving as a __________________ cell.
▪ When the cell is plugged into a power source to charge, it is behaving as an __________________cell.

Electrolysis:

▪ Used to split __________ into _________ and ________ gas.

▪ Used to separate ______________ from the minerals the are

naturally found in.

Something I don’t understand or still have questions about:

 Lesson 13.5
Aim: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Do Now: Why do nonspontaneous redox reactions require energy?

Electrolysis of a Salt Electrolysis of Water Electroplating

Explain what is occurring: Explain what is occurring: Explain what is occurring:

Overall Reaction: Overall Reaction: Overall Reaction:

Reaction @ Cathode: Reaction @ Cathode: Reaction @ Cathode:

Reaction @ Anode: Reaction @ Anode: Reaction @ Anode:

Property Voltaic Electrolytic

Energy transformation (chemical and electrical)
Energy is… (absorbed or released)
Electrons flow from…
Reaction @ anode
Sign of anode
Reaction @ cathode
Sign of cathode