redox reaction

Oxidation- is the process of LOSING an electron.

Characterized by an INCREASE in the oxidation number.

Reduction- is the process of GAINING an electron.

Characterized by a DECREASE in the oxidation number.

Redox Reaction or Reduction Oxidation Reaction- is the process in which the substance lost or gained an electron.

Characterized by an increase or a decrease in the Oxidation number.

Oxidizing Agent- the substance that causes another substance to be oxidized.

It is the substance that was REDUCED in a Redox reaction.

Reducing Agent- the substance that causes another substance to be reduced.

It is the substance that was OXIDIZED in a Redox reaction.

E- electron G-gaining

L- lose E-electron

O- oxidation R-reduction

R- reducing O-oxidizing

A- agent A-agent

ELORA and GEROA are mnemonic codes that can help as remember the Redox reaction.

*BALANCING A REDOX REACTION

First identify the oxidation numbers of substances, then identify the substances that undergone oxidation or reduction.

Identify the number of electrons the substance lost and gained. Then get the least common multiple. And then the factor needed to get the LCM will be the coefficient of the substance.

To check if the reaction is balanced, multiply the coefficient into the oxidation number, if the answers are equal, the reaction is balanced.

OXIDATION

The dictionary meaning of oxidation is “the process of combining a substance with oxygen.” But in deeper it means to lose an oxidation number, the number assigned to an atom or ion. It can be positive or negative. It is located in the upper-right part of an element or a compound.

There are rules that SHOULD be followed in assigning the oxidation numbers.

These are:

If an atom is in its elemental form the oxidation number is ALWAYS 0

Example:

The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion is equal to the charge of its charge.

Example:

Hydrogen has two possible oxidation numbers:

+1 when bonded with a non- metal

-1 when bonded into a metal.

Example:

Oxygen has two possible oxidation numbers:

-2 for all other compounds, except peroxides.