Oxidation Numbers

1
F321
Oxidation and Reduction
OXIDATION NUMBERS
Used to
tell if oxidation or reduction has taken place

work out what has been oxidised and/or reduced
construct half equations and balance redox equations
The number of electrons which must be
Atoms and
simple ions
added or removed to become neutral
atoms
Na in Na =
cations
Na in Na+ = +1
need to add 1 electron to make Na+ neutral
anions
Cl in Cl
need to take 1 electron away to make Cl neutral
Q.1
Molecules
= 1
neutral already ... no need to add any electrons
What is the oxidation state of the elements in ?

a) N
b) Fe3+
c) S2-
d) Cu
e) Cu2+
f) Cu+
The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to zero
Elements
H in H2
= 0
Compounds
C in CO2
= +4
and
O = -2
+4
and
2(-2) = 0
CO2 is neutral, so the sum of the oxidation numbers must be zero

one element must have a positive ON, the other must be negative
the more electronegative species will have the negative value
electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group
O is further to the right in the periodic table so it has the negative value (-2)
C is to the left so it has the positive value (+4)
one needs two Os at -2 each to balance one C at +4
Q.2
If the oxidation number of O is -2, state the oxidation number of the other element in...
a) SO2
b) SO3
(c) NO
d) NO2
e) N2O
f) MnO2
g) P4O10
h) Cl2O7
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KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING 2008
F321
The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to the charge on the ion
Complex
ions
in SO42-
Example
S = +6 , O = -2 [ i.e. +6 + 4(-2) = -2 ]
the ion has a 2- charge
What is the oxidation number (O.N.) of Mn in MnO4 ?
the O.N. of oxygen in most compounds is -2

there are 4 Os so the sum of the O.N.s = -8
the overall charge on the ion is -1, sum of all the O.N.s must add up to -1
the O.S. of Mn plus the sum of the O.N.s of the four Os must equal -1
therefore the O.N. of Manganese in MnO4 = +7
WHICH OXIDATION NUMBER ?

elements can exist in more than one oxidation state
certain elements can be used as benchmarks
Metals
HYDROGEN (+1)
except
0
-1
atom (H) and molecule (H2)

hydride ion, H [in sodium hydride, NaH]
OXYGEN
(-2)
except
0
-1
+2
atom (O) and molecule (O2)

in hydrogen peroxide, H2O2
in F2O
FLUORINE (-1)
except
atom (F) and molecule (F2)
have positive values in compounds

value is usually that of the Group Number
Al is +3
values can go no higher than the Group No.
Mn can be +2,+4,+6,+7
Non metals mostly negative based on their usual ion

can have values up to their Group No.
Cl is usually -1
Cl can be +1, +3, +5, +7
to avoid ambiguity, the oxidation number is often included in the name

e.g.
manganese(IV) oxide shows Mn is in the +4 oxidation state in MnO2

sulphur(VI) oxide for SO3
dichromate(VI) for Cr2O72phosphorus(V) chloride for PCl5.
Q.3
F321
What is the theoretical maximum oxidation state of the following elements ?

Na
Ba
Pb
Mn
Cr
State the most common and the maximum oxidation number in compounds of...
Li
Br
Sr
COMMON
MAXIMUM
Q.4
Give the oxidation number of the element other than O, H or F in

SO2
NH3
NO2
NH4+
IF7
Cl2O7
MnO42-
NO3
NO2
SO32-
S2O32-
S4O62-
What is odd about the value of the oxidation state of S in S4O62- ?

Can it have such a value ? Can you provide a suitable explanation ?
Q.5
What is the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds ?

CH4
C=
PCl3
H=
CS2
C=
Mg =
ICl5
H=
I=
H3PO4
MgCO3
H=
N=
Cl =
BrF3
Cl =
Cl =
H2SO4
NCl3
Cl =
S=
MgCl2
P=
Br =
F=
NH4Cl
N=
P=
H=
O=
Cl =
Mg =
SOCl2
S=
S=
C=
O=
O=
O=
Cl =
F321
REDOX REACTIONS
O.S.
Redox
When reduction and oxidation take place
+7
Oxidation
Removal of electrons; species get less negative / more positive
+6
Reduction
Gain of electrons; species becomes more negative / less positive
+5
+4
+3
REDUCTION in O.N.
Species has been REDUCED

e.g. Cl is reduced to Cl (0 to -1)
+2
+1
0
-1
INCREASE in O.N.
Species has been OXIDISED

e.g. Na is oxidised to Na+ (0 to +1)
-2
-3
O
X
I
D
A
T
I
O
N
-4
-5
-6
-7
OIL RIG
Oxidation Is the Loss

Reduction Is the Gain of electrons
Q.6
Q.7
Classify the following (unbalanced) changes as oxidation, reduction or neither.

a) Mg > Mg2+
b) O2- > O
c) Al3+ > Al
d) Fe3+ > Fe2+
e) Ti3+ > Ti4+
f) 2Q > Q2
What change takes place in the oxidation state of the underlined element ?
Classify the change as oxidation (O), reduction (R) or neither (N).
a) NO3 > NO
b) HNO3 > N2O
c) CH4 > CO
d) Cr2O72- > Cr3+
e) SO32- > SO42-
f) Cr2O72- > CrO42-
g) H2O2 > H2O
h) H2O2 > O2
R
E
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
F321
How to balance redox half equations

Step
1 Work out the formula of the species before and after the change;
2 If different numbers of the relevant species are on both sides, balance them
3 Work out the oxidation number of the element before and after the change
4 Add electrons to one side of the equation so the oxidation numbers balance
5 If the charges on all the species (ions and electrons) on either side of the
equation do not balance, add H+ ions to one side to balance the charges
6 If the equation still doesnt balance, add sufficient water molecules to one side
Example 1 Iron(II) being oxidised to iron(III).

Steps1/2
Fe2+
Step 3
+2
Step 4
Fe2+
>
Fe3+
+3
>
Fe3+
now balanced
Example 2 MnO4 being reduced to Mn2+ in acidic solution
Q.8
Steps 1/2
MnO4 >
Mn2+
Step 3
+7
+2
Step 4
MnO4 + 5e
>
Step 5
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Step 6
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Mn2+
Mn2+
Mn2+
Balance the following half equations

I2
>
C2O42-
>
2CO2
H2O2
>
O2
H2O2
>
H2O
Cr2O72-
>
Cr3+
SO42-
>
SO2
4H2O
now balanced
F321
Combining half equations

A combination of two ionic half equations, one involving oxidation and the other reduction,
produces a balanced REDOX equation. The equations can be balanced as follows...
Step
1 Write out the two half equations

2 Multiply the equations so that the number of electrons in each is the same
3 Add the equations and cancel out the electrons on either side of the equation
4 If necessary, cancel out any other species which appear on both sides
Example
The reaction between manganate(VII) and iron(II).
Step 1
Fe2+
>
Fe3+ +
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >
Step 2
5Fe2+
Mn2+ + 4H2O
> 5Fe3+ + 5e
+
MnO4 + 5e + 8H
Step 3
Oxidation
>
Reduction
multiplied by 5
2+
Mn
+ 4H2O
multiplied by 1
MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e
gives
Q.9
MnO4 + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ >
Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+
Construct balanced redox equations for the reactions between

a) Mg and H+
b) Cr2O72- and Fe2+
c) H2O2 and MnO4
d) C2O42- and MnO4
e) S2O32- and I2
f) Cr2O72- and I

Oxidation Numbers

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1

Oxidation and Reduction

tell if oxidation or reduction has taken place

The number of electrons which must be

added or removed to become neutral

need to add 1 electron to make Na+ neutral

need to take 1 electron away to make Cl neutral

neutral already ... no need to add any electrons

What is the oxidation state of the elements in ?

The sum of the oxidation numbers adds up to zero

CO2 is neutral, so the sum of the oxidation numbers must be zero

Oxidation and Reduction

the ion has a 2- charge

What is the oxidation number (O.N.) of Mn in MnO4 ?

the O.N. of oxygen in most compounds is -2

WHICH OXIDATION NUMBER ?

atom (H) and molecule (H2)

atom (O) and molecule (O2)

atom (F) and molecule (F2)

have positive values in compounds

values can go no higher than the Group No.

Non metals mostly negative based on their usual ion

to avoid ambiguity, the oxidation number is often included in the name

manganese(IV) oxide shows Mn is in the +4 oxidation state in MnO2

Oxidation and Reduction

What is the theoretical maximum oxidation state of the following elements ?

Give the oxidation number of the element other than O, H or F in

What is odd about the value of the oxidation state of S in S4O62- ?

What is the oxidation number of each element in the following compounds ?

Oxidation and Reduction

When reduction and oxidation take place

Removal of electrons; species get less negative / more positive

Gain of electrons; species becomes more negative / less positive

Species has been REDUCED

Species has been OXIDISED

Oxidation Is the Loss

Classify the following (unbalanced) changes as oxidation, reduction or neither.

d) Fe3+ > Fe2+

e) Ti3+ > Ti4+

b) HNO3 > N2O

d) Cr2O72- > Cr3+

e) SO32- > SO42-

f) Cr2O72- > CrO42-

g) H2O2 > H2O

Oxidation and Reduction

How to balance redox half equations

Example 1 Iron(II) being oxidised to iron(III).

Example 2 MnO4 being reduced to Mn2+ in acidic solution

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

Balance the following half equations

Oxidation and Reduction

Combining half equations

1 Write out the two half equations

The reaction between manganate(VII) and iron(II).

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ >

MnO4 + 5e + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ > Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+ + 5e

MnO4 + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ >

Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+

Construct balanced redox equations for the reactions between

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