Distinguish between the terms oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation numbers
Question
Distinguish between the terms oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation numbers
Solution
Oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation numbers can be distinguished as follows:
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Oxidation: Oxidation is a process that involves an increase in oxidation number of an atom in a chemical reaction. This means that the atom loses electrons during the reaction. For example, when Sodium (Na) reacts with Chlorine (Cl) to form Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Sodium is oxidized because its oxidation number increases from 0 in Na to +1 in NaCl.
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Reduction: Reduction is a process that involves a decrease in oxidation number of an atom in a chemical reaction. This means that the atom gains electrons during the reaction. In the above example, Chlorine is reduced because its oxidation number decreases from 0 in Cl to -1 in NaCl.
In summary, oxidation involves loss of electrons (increase in oxidation number) and reduction involves gain of electrons (decrease in oxidation number).
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Example 1: Identifying Oxidation and ReductionUse changes in oxidation number to determine which atoms are oxidized and which atoms are reduced in the following reaction Then, identify the oxidizing and reducing agent.SolutionUse the oxidation number rules to assign oxidation numbers to each atom in the balanced equation. Remember, coefficients do not affect oxidation numbers. The oxidized atom increases in oxidation number and the reduced atom decreases in oxidation number.Note the following:The element carbon is oxidized because its oxidation number increases from +2 to +4.The iron(III) ion within the is reduced because its oxidation number decreases from +3 to 0.The carbon monoxide (CO) is the reducing agent since it contains the element that is oxidized.The Fe 3+ ion is the oxidizing agent since it is reduced in the reaction.Text AnswerTEXT ANSWERIn Example 1, describe how the reduction of ferric oxide fits the definitions of oxidation and reduction.
Define oxidation-reduction, and differentiate the following terms:a. aerobic and anaerobic respirationb. respiration and fermentationc. cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation
Which of the following chemical reactions is an oxidation-reduction reaction?1PointsA B C
Lecture 8: METABOLISM AND ENERGY• Know the difference between oxidation and reduction, and be able to identify if amolecule is being oxidized or reduced if given a reaction.
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