Redox Reaction Mechanisms

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to redox reaction mechanisms as discussed in the lecture.

Redox Reaction

A chemical reaction that involves the transfer of electrons between two species.

Oxidant

A substance that gains electrons in a redox reaction, causing another substance to be oxidized.

Reductant

A substance that loses electrons in a redox reaction, causing another substance to be reduced.

Bimolecular Reaction

A reaction that involves two reactants interacting to produce a product.

Inner-sphere Mechanism

A redox mechanism where the coordination spheres of reacting complexes temporarily share a ligand.

Outer-sphere Mechanism

A redox mechanism involving electron transfer between complexes that do not share a bridging ligand.

Bridged Intermediate

An intermediate formed when the coordination spheres of the reacting complexes temporarily share a ligand.

Precursor Complex

An initial complex formed before electron transfer occurs in a redox reaction.

Dissociation

The process of breaking down a complex into its individual components or products.

Franck-Condon Principle

A principle stating that electronic transitions happen much faster than nuclear motion during the reaction.

Self-exchange Reaction

A redox process where identical reactants are involved, only electron transfer occurs without any net chemical change.

Reorganisation Energy (λ)

The energy required to rearrange the nuclei from the reactant positions to those in the product state, excluding electron transfer.

Activation Energy (ΔG‡)

The energy barrier that must be overcome for a reaction to proceed.