References

Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts And Sciences, UPLB. (2010). Laboratory Instruction Manual for CHEM16.1.
Zumdahl, S., & Zumdahl, S. (2010). Chemistry (8th ed.). Charles Hartford.

OXIDATION-REDUCTION
REACTIONS
Lecture Slides by:
Engr. Van Vesper Dulliyao
 RULES ON HOW TO DETERMINE
OXIDATION NUMBER (O.N.)
1. Any atom in its free or elemental state has
an oxidation number of ZERO.
eg. Ne, 𝐻2 , 𝑂2 , 𝑆8 O.N. = 0
2. For ions containing 1 atom, the O.N. is
equal to the charge of the ion.
eg. 𝑁𝑎+ O.N. = +1 𝐴𝑙 3+ O.N. = +3
− 2−
𝐶𝑙 O.N. = -1 𝑆 O.N. = -2
3. Fluorine, in all its compounds, always has
an 𝑶. 𝑵. = −𝟏.
eg. HF 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑭 = −𝟏
𝐶𝐹4 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑭 = −𝟏
4. The elements in Group 1 (except H) in
ALL their compounds have an 𝑶. 𝑵. = +𝟏.
eg. 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂3 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑵𝒂 = +𝟏
𝐾2 𝐶𝑟𝑂4 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑲 = +𝟏
𝐿𝑖𝐹 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊 = +𝟏
5. The elements in Group 2 in ALL their
compounds have an 𝑶. 𝑵. = +𝟐.
eg. 𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑂3 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒂 = +𝟐
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒂 = +𝟐
6. The elements in Group 17 have 𝑶. 𝑵. = −𝟏
in their binary compounds with metal.
Compounds having only
2 different elements
eg. 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒍 = −𝟏
𝑀𝑔𝐼2 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑰 = −𝟏
7. Oxygen has an 𝑶. 𝑵. = −𝟐 in MOST of its
compounds. eg. 𝐵𝑎𝑂 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑶 = −𝟐
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑶 = −𝟐
EXCEPT:
•In its compounds with F, oxygen has a positive O.N.
eg. 𝑂𝐹2 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑶 = +𝟐
•In peroxides, oxygen has an 𝑶. 𝑵. = −𝟏
eg. 𝐻2 𝑂2 , 𝐵𝑎𝑂2 , 𝑁𝑎2 𝑂2 𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑶 = −𝟏
−
•In the superoxide ion, 𝑂2 , oxygen has an
𝑶. 𝑵. = − 𝟏Τ𝟐
8. Hydrogen has an 𝑶. 𝑵. = +𝟏 in MOST of
its compounds.
eg. 𝐻2 𝑂 𝐻𝐹
𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑯 = +𝟏
𝑁𝐻3 𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3
EXCEPT:
•In hydrides where hydrogen is in combination with
less electronegative atom, its 𝑶. 𝑵. = −𝟏
eg.
𝑁𝑎𝐻, 𝐿𝑖𝐻, 𝐶𝑎𝐻2 , 𝑆𝑖𝐻4 , 𝐴𝑠𝐻3 , 𝐿𝑖𝐴𝑙𝐻4 , and 𝑀𝑔𝐻2
9. Other atoms in compounds of complex
ions, which are not covered by the above
rules, are assigned oxidation numbers such
that the sum of the oxidation numbers of
all atoms in the compound or complex ion
is equal to the net charge of the species.
Ex. What is the oxidation number of
manganese in 𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 ?
1(+1) 1(𝑥) 4(−2)
𝐾 𝑀𝑛 𝑂
𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑲𝑴𝒏𝑶𝟒 = 𝟎
1 +1 + 1 𝑥 + 4(−2) = 0
𝑥−7=0
𝑥 = +7
Ex. What is the oxidation number of sulfur in
𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂3 ?
1(+2) 1(𝑥) 3(−2)
𝐵𝑎 𝑆 𝑂
𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒂𝑺𝑶𝟑 = 𝟎
1 +2 + 1 𝑥 + 3(−2) = 0
𝑥−4=0
𝑥 = +4
Ex. What is the oxidation number of Cr in
2− 2(𝑥) 7(−2)
𝐶𝑟2 𝑂7 ?
𝐶𝑟 𝑂
𝟐−
𝑶. 𝑵. 𝒐𝒇𝑪𝒓𝟐 𝑶𝟕 = −𝟐
2 𝑥 + 7 −2 = −2
2𝑥 − 14 = −2
2𝑥 = −2 + 14
2𝑥 = 12
𝑥=6
 OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS
– a.k.a. REDOX Reactions
– reactions where atoms undergo changes in
oxidation numbers
– reduction reaction and oxidation reaction go
hand in hand
– also referred to as Electron Transfer reactions
Recall: Oxidation number is a bookkeeping
system of electrons
OXIDATION
– algebraic increase in the O.N. of an tom
– loss of electron/s
eg. ‣+4 → +6 ‣−1→0

REDUCTION
– algebraic decrease in the O.N. of an tom
– gain of electron/s
eg. ‣+4 → +3 ‣−1 → −3
 LEORA REDUCTION
Loss of Gain of
Electron/s, Electron/s,
Oxidation, Reduction,
Reducing Oxidizing
Agent Agent
OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS
eg.
O.N. 0 0 +1 -2
2𝐻2 + 𝑂2 → 2𝐻2 𝑂
Hydrogen Oxygen
O.N. 0 → +1 O.N. 0 → −2
Lost 1 electron Gained 2 electrons
It was Oxidized It was Reduced
It is the Reducing Agent It is the Oxidizing Agent
 OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS
eg.
− −
Loss of 1 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐶𝑙
−
16𝐻3 𝑂 + 10𝐶𝑙 − + 2𝑀𝑛𝑂4 → 2𝑀𝑛2+ + 5𝐶𝑙2 + 24𝐻2 𝑂

− −
Gain of 5 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝑀𝑛𝑂4
 OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS
−
16𝐻3 𝑂 + 10𝐶𝑙 − + 2𝑀𝑛𝑂4 → 2𝑀𝑛2+ + 5𝐶𝑙2 + 24𝐻2 𝑂

Chlorine Manganese
O.N. −1 → 0 O.N. +7 → +2
Lost 1 electron Gained 5 electrons
It was Oxidized It was Reduced
It is the Reducing Agent It is the Oxidizing Agent
BALANCING OXIDATION-
REDUCTION REACTIONS
by the Change in O.N. Method
 BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
Step 1. Determine the atoms that change in
oxidation number and indicate the oxidation
number of these atoms on both sides of the
equation
Step 2. Determine the number of electrons
transferred per formula unit of reducing and
oxidizing agents.
 BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
Step 3. Adjust the coefficient of the reducing
agents and oxidizing agents in order to make the
− −
no. of 𝑒 lost equal to the no. of 𝑒 gained.
Step 4. Balance the elements that changed in O.N.
by adjusting the coefficients of the substances.
Step 5. Balance the rest of the equation by
inspection. The usual procedure is to balance all
other atoms first then H and O.
 BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
eg.
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
Step 1. Determine the atoms that change in
oxidation number
-1 0
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+7 +2
Step 2. Determine the number of electrons
transferred per formula unit of R.A. and O.A.
− −
Loss of 1 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐾𝐼

-1 0
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+7 +2
− −
Gain of 5 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝑀𝑛𝑂4
Step 3. Adjust the coefficient of the R.A. and O.A.
−
to balance the no. of 𝑒 gained and lost.
− −
Loss of 1 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐾𝐼 𝟓=𝟓

-1 0
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+7 +2
− −
Gain of 5 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 𝟏=𝟓
Step 4. Balance Mn and I.
DO NOT change the coefficient of the
oxidizing agent and reducing agent.
5
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 5𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
2
Do not worry about the fractional coefficient. These
can be converted to a whole number later.
Step 5. Balance
a) K 5
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 5𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 𝟔𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
2
b) Cl 5
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 𝟖𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 5𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 6𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
2
c) H
5
𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 8𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 5𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 6𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 𝟒𝐻2 𝑂
2
d) O - already balanced
Multiply both sides by 2 to offset the fraction
5
2 𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 8𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 5𝐾𝐼 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐼2 + 6𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 4𝐻2 𝑂
2
2𝐾𝑀𝑛𝑂4 + 16𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 10𝐾𝐼 → 2𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 + 5𝐼2 + 10𝐾𝐶𝑙 + 8𝐻2 𝑂
BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
eg.
𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂

Step 1.
0 +2
𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+5 +2
Step 2.
−
Loss of 2 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐶𝑢

0 +2
𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+5 +2
−
Gain of 3 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐻𝑁𝑂3
Step 3.
−
Loss of 2 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐶𝑢 𝟑 = 𝟔

0 +2
𝐶𝑢 + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂
+5 +2
−
Gain of 3 mol 𝑒 per mol 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 𝟐 = 𝟔
Step 4.
𝟑𝐶𝑢 + 𝟐𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 𝟑𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 𝟐𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂

Step 5.
3𝐶𝑢 + (𝟐 + 𝟔)𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 3𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 2𝑁𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂
Balance H:
3𝐶𝑢 + 8𝐻𝑁𝑂3 → 3𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑂3 2 + 2𝑁𝑂 + 𝟒𝐻2 𝑂
Balance O: – Already balanced.