Mastering Chemistry - Redox Reactions, Chemical Cells and Electrolysis

Flashcards covering key concepts in redox reactions, chemical cells, and electrolysis from Chemistry lectures.

What is oxidation in terms of oxygen gain?

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen by a chemical species.

What is reduction in terms of oxygen loss?

Reduction is the loss of oxygen from a chemical species.

What defines a redox reaction?

A redox reaction is a chemical reaction where reduction and oxidation occur simultaneously.

What are oxidising agents?

Oxidising agents are chemical species that cause oxidation of another species and themselves get reduced.

What are reducing agents?

Reducing agents are chemical species that cause reduction of another species and themselves get oxidised.

What defines oxidation in terms of electrons?

Oxidation is the loss of electron(s) from a chemical species.

What defines reduction in terms of electrons?

Reduction is the gain of electron(s) by a chemical species.

How are oxidation numbers related to redox reactions?

Changes in oxidation numbers are used to identify whether a reaction is a redox reaction.

How do you identify the oxidising agent in a reaction?

The oxidising agent is the species that is reduced, causing another species to oxidise.

What is the electrochemical series?

The electrochemical series is a ranking of chemical species based on their ability to gain or lose electrons.

When does an oxidation number increase?

An oxidation number increases when a species is oxidised.

When does an oxidation number decrease?

An oxidation number decreases when a species is reduced.

What properties do strong oxidising agents have?

Strong oxidising agents readily gain electrons and are more likely to oxidise other substances.

What is a half equation?

A half equation represents either the oxidation or reduction part of a redox reaction.