2. Introduction
Oxidation is Loss of Electrons
Reduction is Gain of Electrons
OIL RIG
Substances that cause oxidation are
called oxidising agents
E.g. O2, Cl2 [halogens], MnO41-, Cr2O72 Substances that cause reduction are
called reducing agents
E.g. C, CO, H2
3. The number of electrons
an atom appears to
have gained or lost.
Man made system so anomalous
results can be obtained.
4. Rule 1
In free elements the oxidation
number is 0
e.g. Na = 0,
Cu = 0,
P = 0,
H2 = 0,
S8 = 0
Cl2 = 0
A free element is an element on its own
It is neutral so it will have neither lost nor
gained electrons
5. Rule 2
The sum of all the oxidation
numbers in a molecule is 0.
E.g
CaCO3 = 0
(NH4)2SO4 = 0
6. Rule 3
The oxidation number of a simple
ion is the charge on that ion.
E.g.
Cl- is -1, Na+ is +1
O2- is -2 Ca2+ is +2
Al3+ is +3
N3- is -3
S2- is -2
7. Rule 4
The sum of oxidation numbers in a
complex ion is the charge on the ion
2-
SO4 = -2 [total]
PO43- = -3
NH4+ = +1
NO3- = -1
8. Rule 5
In compounds containing H the Oxidation
Number of H is +1
e.g. H2O, HCl, NH4+, CH3COOH
Except in metal hydrides where it is -1
e.g. NaH, KH, CaH2 where it is -1
9. Rule 6
In compounds containing oxygen the
Oxidation Number of oxygen is -2
Except in
(i) peroxides where it is -1
e.g. H2O2, (Na2O2 and BaO2)
(ii) When bonded to F when it is +2
10. Rule 7
The Alkali Metals [Group I]
are always +1 in a compound
i.e Na, K, Li, Rb, Cs, Fr
11. Rule 8
The Alkaline Earth Metals [Group II]
are all +2 in compounds
Group II
Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra
12. Rule 9
The Halogens [Group VII]
are all -1
F, Cl, Br, I
Except
when bonded to a more electronegative
element
e.g in Cl2O the Cl is +1
and in ClO2 the Cl is +4
13. Rule 10
Oxidation is a decrease in oxidation
number
Reduction is a gain of oxidation number
Mg + Cu2+ = Mg2+ + Cu
0
+2
+2
0
Mg has been oxidised Ox. No. zero to +2
Loss of 2 electrons
Cu has been reduced Ox. No. +2 to zero
Gain of 2 electrons
14. Examples
Sodium Oxide
Na2 O Overall
=0
+1 -2 individual
+2 -2 combined
K MnO4 Overall= 0
K Mn O4
+1 +7 -2 individual
+1 +7 -8 combined
16. Work out the oxidation number of Mn in
each of the following compounds
MnCl2
= +2 Manganese (II) chloride
MnO2
= +4
Manganese (IV) oxide
MnO4-
= +7
Manganate (VII)
Mn can have different oxidation numbers depending
on the elements it is combined with.
These are called Oxidation States
When naming transition metal compounds it is normal
to include the oxidation state in the name
17. Transition Elements
Have variable valency
Variable oxidation numbers [oxidation states]
Definite colours associated with oxidation
states
Fe2+ iron (II)
= Green [+2]
FeCl2
Fe3+ iron (III)
= Yellow [+3]
FeCl3
Manganese (VII) = Pink [+7]
MnO4 Manganese(IV) = Brown [+4]
MnO2
Manganese(II) = Colourless [+2] MnCl2
Catalytic properties [as do their compounds.]
18. Anomalies
C6 H12 O6
+1 -2
+12 -12
C appears to have
gained or lost no
electrons
Calculate the oxidation number of S in Na2S4O6
S is + 2.5
Clearly it can’t lose half an electron so this is an
anomaly.
19. Oxidation Numbers and Nomenclature
Compounds containing two elements
end in ide
if in a compound an element has more
than one oxidation state then the
oxidation state of the least
electronegative element is stated.
e.g. Cu2O is copper(I) oxide
CuO is copper (II) oxide
PbO is Lead(II) oxide
PbO is lead(IV) oxide
20. Oxidation numbers and Nomenclature
MnO2 is manganese(IV) oxide
1- is
MnO4
manganate(VII)