Oxidation and Reduction

What is oxidation in terms of electrons

Loss of electrons

What is reduction in terms of electrons

Gain of electrons

What is a redox reaction

A reaction where oxidation and reduction occur together

What is a reducing agent

A species that loses electrons and is itself oxidised

What is an oxidising agent

A species that gains electrons and is itself reduced

Where are oxidising and reducing agents found in an equation

On the left hand side because they are reactants

What is oxidation number

The charge an element has or appears to have when it is in a compound when certain rules are applied.

What happens to the less electronegative element

It becomes positive

What happens to the more electronegative element

It becomes negative

What is oxidation in terms of oxidation number

Increase in oxidation number

What is reduction in terms of oxidation number

Decrease in oxidation number

What oxidation number do simple elements have

Zero

What is the oxidation number of Group 1 elements in compounds

+1

What is the oxidation number of Group 2 elements in compounds

+2

What is the oxidation number of a simple ion

Equal to the charge on the ion

What is the usual oxidation number of halogens in compounds

-1

When can a halogen have a positive oxidation number

When bonded to a more electronegative element

What is the usual oxidation number of oxygen

-2

What is the oxidation number of oxygen in OF2

+2

What is the oxidation number of oxygen in peroxides

-1

What is the usual oxidation number of hydrogen

+1

What is the oxidation number of hydrogen in metal hydrides

-1

What must oxidation numbers add up to in a complex ion

The charge on the ion

What must oxidation numbers add up to in a neutral molecule

Zero