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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Oxidation Reduction Fundamentals
Which of the following periodic table groups typically undergo reduction reactions?
Alkaline earth metals
Noble gases
Halogens
Transition metals
Halogens
Reduction reactions are characterized by a gain of electrons whereas oxidation reactions are characterized by a loss of electrons. Recall that elements on the right side of the periodic table have the tendency to gain electrons to complete the octet. Groups such as chalcogens (group VI) and halogens (group VII) have six and seven valence electrons, respectively; therefore, they only need a few electrons to have eight valence electrons and complete the octet. Since halogens tend to gain electrons, they typically undergo reduction.
Alkaline earth metals (group II) and transition metals have few valence electrons; therefore, they tend to lose electrons and undergo oxidation. Noble gases are nonreactive elements and do not undergo reduction or oxidation.
Example Question #161 : Physical Chemistry
A researcher has two compounds. Compound A is manganese dioxide () and compound B is potassium permanganate (
). A reaction involving the conversion of manganese in Compound A to manganese in Compound B can be classified as which of the following reactions?
Reduction, because the manganese will gain 3 electrons
Reduction, because the manganese will lose 3 electrons
Oxidation, because the manganese will gain 3 electrons total
Oxidation, because the manganese will lose 3 electrons total
Oxidation, because the manganese will lose 3 electrons total
For this problem, we need to figure out the oxidation states of manganese in each compound. Oxygen typically has an oxidation number of and potassium has an oxidation number of
. For Compound A, there are two oxygen molecules; therefore, oxygen contributes a total charge of
. Since manganese dioxide is a neutral molecule, the manganese in it will have an oxidation number of
. For Compound B, four oxygen atoms contribute a charge of
whereas one potassium atom contributes a charge of
; therefore, the manganese in potassium permanganate will have an oxidation number of
. Conversion of manganese from Compound A to manganese in Compound B involves the removal of electrons—three electrons, specifically, because its charge has to change from
to
; therefore, this reaction is characterized as an oxidation reaction.
Example Question #2 : Types Of Reactions
Which of the following reactions involves both reduction and oxidation reactions?
Neither single displacement reactions nor the reaction of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate
The reaction of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate
Both single displacement reactions and the reaction of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate
Single displacement reactions
Single displacement reactions
A reaction that has both reduction and oxidation half reaction is called a redox reaction. It involves one or more atoms gaining electrons (reduction) and one or more atoms losing electrons (oxidation). Recall that single displacement reactions involve the replacement of an element in a compound with another element. An example of single replacement reaction is shown below:
In this reaction, a sodium atom replaces a calcium atom in calcium sulfate. If we calculate the oxidation numbers for sodium and calcium, we can see that sodium loses an electron (the oxidation state goes from to
) whereas the calcium ion gains two electrons (goes from
to
); therefore, this is a redox reaction. All single displacement reactions follow this general trend and are characterized as redox reactions.
Reaction of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate is as follows:
If we calculate the oxidation state of each atom we will notice that oxidation number doesn’t change; therefore, this isn’t a redox reaction.
Example Question #2 : Oxidation Reduction Fundamentals
Oxidation reactions __________ electrons and reduction reactions __________ electrons.
consumes . . . produces
produces . . . produces
produces . . . consumes
consumes . . . consumes
produces . . . consumes
Oxidation involves a loss of electrons whereas reduction involves a gain of electrons. This means that oxidation generates electrons as products whereas reduction consumes electrons as reactants. Note that oxidation and reduction reactions can be distinguished by looking at oxidation states. If the oxidation state of an atom becomes more positive, then it underwent an oxidation reaction, and if the oxidation state becomes more negative, then that atom underwent a reduction reaction.
Example Question #1 : Electrochemistry
Which of the following is true regarding an electrolytic cell?
More than one of the other answer choices is true
Oxidation happens at the anode and reduction happens at the cathode
Solid metal is plated at the anode
The entropy of the reaction is always negative
Oxidation happens at the anode and reduction happens at the cathode
An electrolytic cell utilizes energy to facilitate a nonspontaneous redox reaction. This is different from a galvanic cell, which releases energy from a spontaneous redox reaction. A shared characteristic of both cells is that the oxidation half-reaction always happens at the anode and the reduction half-reaction always happens at the cathode. Note that a redox reaction always has an oxidation half-reaction and a reduction half-reaction.
The entropy of the reaction is typically negative for a nonspontaneous reaction. This is not true for all cases; therefore, the entropy could be positive or negative for an electrolytic cell. Electroplating involves reduction reactions that convert metal ions into solid metal. This solid metal is coated onto a metal plate. Since this involves a reduction reaction, it occurs at the cathode.
Example Question #1 : Galvanic And Electrolytic Cells
The Gibbs free energy of a redox reaction is __________ for a galvanic cell and is __________ for an electrolytic cell.
negative . . . positive
positive . . . positive
negative . . . negative
positive . . . negative
negative . . . positive
Gibbs free energy is the “free” energy available that can be used to perform useful work. A negative Gibbs free energy corresponds to a spontaneous reaction, whereas a positive Gibbs free energy corresponds to a nonspontaneous reaction. Recall that a galvanic cell involves a spontaneous reaction, whereas an electrolytic cell involves a nonspontaneous reaction; therefore, the Gibbs free energy of the reaction is negative for a galvanic cell and positive for an electrolytic cell.
Example Question #2 : Galvanic And Electrolytic Cells
What type of energy input is required for a galvanic cell?
Galvanic cells do not require energy
Both electrical and chemical energy
Chemical energy
Electrical energy
Galvanic cells do not require energy
Recall that galvanic cells carry out spontaneous reactions; therefore, they do not require energy. They release free energy that can be used to do work such as powering an electrical device (like cell phones).
Electrolytic cells, on the other hand, require energy because they carry out nonspontaneous reactions. They require the input of electrical energy.
Example Question #1 : Electrochemistry
Listed below are standard reduction potentials for a few elements.
Lithium:
Iron (with oxidation state):
Aluminum:
Given this information, which of the following redox reactions can be found in a galvanic cell?
I.
II.
III.
I and III
I only
I and II
III only
I and II
Galvanic cells are electrochemical cells that are characterized by a spontaneous redox reaction. To solve this question, we need to find the standard potential for each of the given reactions. Note that each reaction is a redox reaction; therefore, there is an oxidation half-reaction and a reduction half-reaction for each one.
The first reaction has a ferrous ion being reduced (gaining electrons) and lithium being oxidized (losing electrons). From the given information, we can deduce the standard potential for each half-reaction. The standard potential for reduction of iron is . Since the given standard potentials are for "reduction," the oxidation of iron is the opposite of the given value:
. The total standard potential for this reaction is the sum of the standard potential for the half-reaction; therefore, the standard reaction potential for the first reaction is:
Since its standard reaction potential is positive, this reaction is spontaneous and occurs in a galvanic cell.
The second reaction has aluminum being oxidized () and a ferrous ion being reduced (
). The standard reaction potential is
; therefore, this reaction can also occur in a galvanic cell.
The third reaction has a lithium ion being reduced () and an aluminum being oxidized (
). The standard reduction potential is
; therefore, this reaction is nonspontaneous and cannot occur in a galvanic cell.
Example Question #1 : Electrochemistry
What will happen when the two given half-cells are connected by a salt bridge to form a galvanic cell?
Copper metal will be oxidized at the anode; lead ions will be reduced at the cathode.
Lead metal will be oxidized at the anode; copper ions will be reduced at the cathode.
No reaction will take place.
Lead metal will be oxidized at the cathode; copper ions will be reduced at the anode.
Copper metal will be oxidized at the cathode; lead ions will be reduced at the anode.
Lead metal will be oxidized at the anode; copper ions will be reduced at the cathode.
has a higher standard reduction potential, and will therefore be reduced, meaning that lead will be oxidized. The anode is where oxidation takes place, and the cathode is where reduction occurs. Therefore, we assign the cathode to copper and the anode to lead.
Example Question #1 : Galvanic And Electrolytic Cells
For an electrolytic cell containing the two half-cells shown, the __________ reaction will take place and the will be __________.
spontaneous . . .
nonspontaneous . . .
nonspontaneous . . .
nonspontaneous . . .
spontaneous . . .
nonspontaneous . . .
In an electrolytic cell, the non-spontaneous reaction occurs. This means that Na is reduced (making it the cathode) and Mn is oxidized (making it the anode). The standard cell potential can then be calculated as follows:
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