Redox Reactions
For JEE Exams:
Oxidation and Reduction
- Oxidation: Loss of electrons.
- Reduction: Gain of electrons.
Types of Redox Reactions
- Combination: Two or more substances combine to form a new substance.
- Decomposition: A single substance breaks down into two or more new substances.
- Displacement: One element replaces another element in a compound.
- Disproportionation: A single substance undergoes both oxidation and reduction simultaneously.
Balancing Redox Reactions (Half-reaction method)
- Split the overall reaction into two half-reactions: oxidation half-reaction and reduction half-reaction.
- Balance each half-reaction separately.
- Multiply the oxidation half-reaction by a suitable factor to make the number of electrons lost equal to the number of electrons gained in the reduction half-reaction.
- Add the two half-reactions together to obtain the overall balanced redox reaction.
Redox Reactions in Acidic and Basic Solutions
- In acidic solutions, H+ ions are involved in the reactions.
- In basic solutions, OH- ions are involved in the reactions.
Redox Reactions and Electrochemical Cells
- Electrochemical cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy.
- Redox reactions occur at the anode (oxidation) and the cathode (reduction) of the electrochemical cell.
- The cell potential (Ecell) is the difference in potential between the anode and the cathode.
Nernst Equation and Cell Potential
- The Nernst equation relates the cell potential to the concentrations of reactants and products.
- The cell potential decreases with increasing temperature.
- The cell potential is positive if the reaction is spontaneous and negative if the reaction is non-spontaneous.
Determination of pH of solutions using redox reactions
- Redox reactions can be used to determine the pH of solutions by measuring the cell potential.
- The pH of a solution can be calculated using the following equation:
pH = (Ecell - E^0) / (0.0592 V/pH)
For CBSE Board Exams:
Oxidation and Reduction
- Oxidation: Loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation number.
- Reduction: Gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation number.
Types of Redox Reactions
- Combination: Two substances combine to form a new substance.
- Decomposition: A single substance breaks down into two or more new substances.
- Displacement: One element replaces another element in a compound.
Balancing Redox Reactions (Simple cases)
- Balance the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the reaction.
- Balance the charge on both sides of the reaction.
- Balance the mass on both sides of the reaction.
Role of Redox Reactions in Everyday Life
- Redox reactions are involved in many everyday processes, such as:
- Respiration
- Combustion
- Rusting of iron
- Photosynthesis
Corrosion and its Prevention
- Corrosion is the process by which metals react with oxygen and water to form oxides.
- Corrosion can be prevented by:
- Painting or coating the metal with a protective layer.
- Applying a sacrificial anode.