Mastering Redox Reactions

A redox reaction is a chemical reaction that involves a transfer of electrons and changes in oxidation number.

An oxidation reaction is a reaction that takes an electron from one substance.

A reduction reaction is a reaction that gives an electron to a substance.

<p>An oxidizing agent is the substance that causes the oxidation in another substance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A reducing agent is a substance that causes another substance to reduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To identify an oxidizing agent, you can look at the oxidation number of an atom before and after the reaction. If the oxidation number is greater in the product, then it lost electrons and the substance was oxidized.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To identify a reducing agent, you can look at the oxidation number of an atom before and after the reaction. If the oxidation number is less, then it gained electrons and was reduced.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A redox reaction is a reaction in which one substance gives up an electron and another substance takes that electron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An oxidizing agent is the substance that causes the oxidation in another substance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A reducing agent is something that causes another substance to reduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The substance that is reduced in a reaction is identified as the oxidizing agent because it gains electrons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The substance that is oxidized in a reaction is identified as the reducing agent because it loses electrons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The oxidation number is a measure of the number of electrons that an atom has gained or lost.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Balancing redox equations is done in three steps: 1. Break the reaction into half-reactions. 2. Balance the atoms that are not involved in the redox process. 3. Balance the electrons lost and gained in the half-reactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An oxidizing agent is identified by the fact that its oxidation number increases in a reaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers