electrochemistry

Flashcards on Redox Processes, Oxidation Numbers, and Oxidizing & Reducing Agents

Oxidation Number

A number given to each atom or ion in a compound to keep track of how many electrons they have.

Loss of electrons

Positive oxidation number indicates…

Gain of electrons

Negative oxidation number indicates…

Zero

The oxidation number of any uncombined element is…

Electrons have been lost or gained

In a single ion or molecular ion, the oxidation number tells us how many…

Oxidation

Gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen, or loss of electrons

Reduction

Loss of oxygen, gain of hydrogen, or gain of electrons

Loss of electrons

Oxidation is the…

Gain of electrons

Reduction is the…

Redox reactions

Reactions in which oxidation and reduction take place together

Disproportionation reaction

A reaction in which the same species is both oxidised and reduced at the same time

OIL RIG

Acronym to remember oxidation and reduction definitions

Oxidising agent

A substance that oxidises another atom or ion by causing it to lose electrons; it itself gets reduced.

Reducing agent

A substance that reduces another atom or ion by causing it to gain electrons; it itself gets oxidised.

Decreases

Oxidising agent's oxidation number…

Increases

Reducing agent's oxidation number…

Roman numerals

Used to show the oxidation states of transition metals which can have more than one oxidation number