SUBJECT :
Physical Sciences
GRADE : 11
Oxidation Number
Lesson 1
03 August 2021
Focus : Redox Reaction
Online Lesson
Tuesday: Duration : 2hr
Lesson Topic : Redox
reaction
Tuesday: 03/08/2021
Lesson Topic : Oxidation Numbers
Monday:
Lesson Topic : Redox
reaction Saturday : 07/08/2021
Lesson Topic : Redox
reaction
2
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will …..
• understand what is meant by the term REDOX
• understand and be able to explain the terms
• OXIDATION and REDUCTION
• know what the OXIDATION NUMBER of an atom is
• be able to ASSIGN oxidation numbers
• know where the term oxidation originally comes from.
Redox reaction
• The word REDOX is an acronym for reduction / oxidation.
• Oxidation is the process whereby an atom loses an electron,
while reduction implies a gain of electrons.
• This is very important to remember, and the easiest way is via
the following mnemonics: OIL RIG or LEO GER
• where OIL stands for oxidation is loss
• and RIG means reduction is gain
Reduction and Oxidation
• and where LEO stands for loss electrons is oxidation
• and GER means gain of electrons is reduction
• A redox reaction involves an ex-change or transfer of electrons
from one molecule, atom or ion, to another.
• In order to deal successfully with redox reactions, it is important
to be able to assign OXIDATION NUMBERS –the charge an
atom would have in a compound composed of ions –to the
elements in a molecule or ion.
Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers
RULE 1: The oxidation number for any element is zero / the sum of all
oxidation numbers in a neutral molecule is zero / for an ion, the sum of
oxidation numbers = charge on the ion.
• the oxidation number for Cu2+ is 2 (it has lost 2 electrons), and for Cl–
is –1 (since it has gained 1 electron)
• the sum of oxidation numbers of all atoms in KMnO4 is zero, since it
is a neutral molecule; likewise for the nitrogen (N2) molecule
• with the oxidation number of N2 equal to zero, the oxidation number
for N must necessarily also be equal to zero –only 2 × 0 = 0
• the oxidation numbers for He, Ne, Cu, Al, C, must all be zero –these
are elements and have neither lost nor gained electrons
Rules (cont)
RULE 2: Fluorine has an oxidation number of -1
RULE 3: The metals of group 1,2 or 3 have an oxidation number of +1, +2, +3
respectively.
• the oxidation number for Na is +1, and for Ca is +2, for Al is +3.
RULE 4: Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 when combined with elements
on the right side of the periodic chart (non-metals) and a -1 when combined with
elements on the left side of the periodic chart (metals).
• in HF, fluorine has a oxidation number of -1, the sum of oxidation numbers must
be zero, and therefore the oxidation number of H in HF is +1.
• in H2, H has the oxidation number zero
• in NaH, Na has the oxidation number +1, the sum of all oxidation numbers must
be zero, thus H has an oxidation number -1.
Rules (cont)
RULE 5: Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2
• in H2O, hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1, oxygen of -2
• in F2O, fluorine has an oxidation number of -1, the sum of all
oxidation numbers is zero, thus the oxidation number of oxygen
must be +2 (Rule 2 takes precedence over Rule 5)
• in H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), the oxidation number of H is +1,
the sum is zero, thus oxygen must be –1
Rules (cont)
• RULE 6: Group 17 atoms have an oxidation number of -1; Group 16
atoms have an oxidation number of -2; Group 15 atoms have an
oxidation number of -3.
• Note: Chlorine, in Group 17, usually has an oxidation number of -1,
but in combination with fluorine or oxygen, Rules 2 and 5 take
precedence.
EXAMPLES:
• Calculate the oxidation number of each kind of atom in the following:
a) SO2 b) CO32- c) Na2SO4 d) (NH4)2S
Examples
SO2 –each oxygen has an oxidation number of -2
the sum of all oxidation numbers of atoms in a neutral compound is zero
• then the oxidation number of sulfur (S) must be +4, because +4 + (2 × (-2))
=0
CO32-
• the sum of all oxidation numbers in an ion must equal the charge of the
ions, i.e. -2
• The oxidation number of oxygen is -2
• then carbon has an oxidation number of +4, since +4 + (3 × (-2)) = -2
Examples (cont)
Na2SO4
• sum of oxidation numbers must be equal to zero (Rule 1)
• Na has an oxidation number of +1 (Rule 3)
• O has an oxidation number of -2 (Rule 5)
• then oxidation number of S = +6 [2(+1)+6+(4×(-2)) = 0
Activity
Determine the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds:
oxidised, and those that are reduced.
1) a) S2O3 c) P2O5
b) Na2O d) NO3 -
2) Determine the oxidation number of chlorine
a) KClO3 c) Ca(ClO4)2
b) Cl2 d) Cl2O
Work Area
Polling Question
A. 1 and 2 B. 7 and 6
C. 6 and 6 D. 1 and 1
Work Area
Activity
Assign oxidation numbers to the atoms underlined.
a) NaCl k) N2O4
b) N2 l) KMnO4
c) CO2 m) CH4
d) CuCO3 m) NH3
e) FeClO3 o) MnCrO4
f) AlN p) Mn3(PO4)2
g) NaF q) KSCN
h) PF5 r) P4O6
i) LiBF4 s) H4P2O7
j) HCN t) CaC2
SUMMARY
• A REDOX REACTION is one in which one element is oxidised, and
another is reduced. This is essentially an exchange or transfer of
electrons.
• Redox can be explained in terms of
• Electron transfer: Oxidation is loss of electrons
Reduction is gain of electrons
• Oxidation number: Oxidation is increase in oxidation number
Reduction is decrease in oxidation numberetc.
Summary
• (Remember the mnemonics: OIL RIG and LEO GER)
• By definition, the oxidation number of an atom is the charge that
atom would have if the compound was composed of ions.
• Oxidation numbers may be assigned to atoms in a compound by
following various rules. These rules form a hierarchy –i.e. Rule 1
always takes precedence over Rule 2, Rule 3 over Rule 4 and 5,
RECAP
• Rules: The following rules are in the form of a hierarchy; that is, the
first stated rule takes precedence over subsequent rules if a conflict
arises.
Rule 1: The oxidation numbers for all the atoms in a neutral
molecule must add up to 0.
• Similarly, the oxidation numbers for all the atoms of an ion must add
up to the charge of the ion.
Rule 2: Fluorine has an oxidation number of -1
Rule 3: The metals of group 1 have an oxidation number of +1
• The metals of group 2 have an oxidation number of +2 Sc, Y and Al
have an oxidation number of +3.
RECAP
Rule 4: Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 when
combined with elements on the right side of the periodic chart
(non-metals) and a -1 when combined with elements on the left
side of the periodic chart (metals).
Rule 5: Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2
Rule 6, 7, 8: Group 17 atoms have an oxidation number of -1;
Group 16 atoms have an oxidation number of -2; Group 15 atoms
have an oxidation number of -3.
Solution
Concluding Remarks
The NEXT lesson will focus on
REDOX REACTIONS, which links
with the work we completed
today
22
Concluding Remarks
Following our today lesson, I Repeat this procedure until you are
want you to do the to: confident.
Read through what the learner need to
Do not forget: Practice makes
understand and master in your learner
perfect!
material.
Complete the activities
Attempt as many as possible other similar examples on your own from the
Text-Book and the past exam papers.
23
Thank you
