Oxidation, Reduction and Redox Reactions

What is oxidation and reduction?

Oxidation is the process of electrons loss. Reduction is the process of electron gain

What are oxidising and reducing agents?

An oxidising agent accepts electrons and undergoes reduction itself. A reducing agent donates electrons and undergoes oxidation itself

What are the rules for assigning oxidation numbers?

1. Elements on their own have an oxidation number of 0

2. Atoms in molecules bonded to identical atoms like 02 also have oxidation number 0

3. An ion has a oxidation number equal to its charge

4. In a molecular ion the sum of the oxidation numbers is equal to overall charge

5. In a compound the sum of the oxidation numbers is 0

6. Oxygen has a oxidation number of 2- except with F2 where it is 1-

7. Hydrogen has oxidation number of +1 except with a metal where it is 1-

What does a compound ending in ate contain?

Oxygen and one other element

What is disproportionation?

When a single element is both oxidised and reduced