10 Redox equilibria Answers

Answers to the Topic 10 Test yourself questions

1 a) Oxidation of O2− ions by loss of electrons at the
anode: 2O2−(l)  O2(g) + 4e−
Reduction of Al3+ ions by gain of electrons at
the cathode: Al3+(l) + 3e−  Al(l)
b) 2Fe(s) + 3Cl2(g)  2FeCl3(s)
Oxidation of Fe to Fe3+  loss of electrons:
2Fe  2Fe3+ + 6e−
Reduction of Cl2 to Cl−  gain of electrons:
3Cl2 + 6e−  6Cl−
2 a) Fluorine is the most reactive and most
electronegative non-metal. Therefore, the
oxidation number of fluorine in OF2 is 1.
As OF2 is a neutral molecule, this means that
the oxidation number of oxygen in OF2 is +2.
b) Sodium forms Na+ ions in all its compounds
including peroxides such as Na2O2. If the
oxidation number of sodium in Na2O2 is +1, the
oxidation number of oxygen in Na2O2 must be
1, because the sum of the oxidation numbers
on the atoms in Na2O2 must be zero.
3 The oxidation number of two Br− ions increases
from 1 to 0 in Br2. The oxidation number of one
S atom in H2SO4 decreases from +6 to +4 in
H2SO3.
4 a) K +1, I +5, O 2
b) N +5, O 2
c) H +1, O 1
d) S +6, F 1
e) Na +1, H 1
5 a) SO2, H2SO3, SO32− and S
b) SO3, H2SO4, SO42−
c) H2S, S2−
6 a)
+5 HNO3, NO3−
+4 NO2, N2O4
+3 HNO2, NO2−
+2 NO
+1 N2O
0 N2
1
2
3 NH3, N3−
b)
+7 KClO4, ClO4−
+6
+5 KClO3, ClO3−
+4
+3 KClO2, ClO2−
+2
+1 HClO, ClO−
0 Cl2
1 HCl, KCl,
Cl−
7 a) oxidised b) reduced
c) reduced  d) oxidised
8 a) Fe3+(aq) + e−  Fe2+(aq)
b) Br2(aq) + 2e−  2Br−(aq)
c) H2O2(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e−  2H2O(l)
9 a) Zn(s)  Zn2+(aq) + 2e−
b) 2I−(aq)  I2(aq) + 2e−
c) Fe2+(aq)  Fe3+(aq) + e−
10 The chlorine oxidises iodide ions on the
starch-iodide paper to iodine. This reacts with the
starch to form a blue/black colour. Only a small
amount of chlorine is needed to produce a
distinct blue colour with starch, so this is a very
sensitive test for chlorine.
11a) Fe3+(aq) + e−  Fe2+(aq)
2I− (aq)  I2(aq) + 2e−
b) 2Fe3+(aq) + 2I−(aq)  2Fe2+(aq) + I2(aq)
c) The yellow iron(III) chloride solution will turn
brown due to the formation of iodine.
d) 1
12 a) Cr2O72−(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e−
 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
2−
SO3 (aq) + H2O(l)
 SO42−(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e−
b) Cr2O72−(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 3SO32−(aq)
 2Cr3+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 3SO42−(aq)
c) The yellow/orange dichromate solution turns
green as chromium(III) ions form.
d) 3
13 a) MnO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + 2Cl− (aq)
 Mn2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + Cl2(g)
b) Cu(s) + 2NO3− (aq) + 4H+(aq)
 Cu2+(aq) + 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

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 10 Redox equilibria Answers

14 a) MnO4− + 8H+ + 5e−  Mn2+ + 4H2O 0.535

 Amount of Fe2+ reacting =  5 mol
(Fe2+  Fe3+ + e−)  5 1000
b) (MnO4− + 8H+ + 5e−  Mn2+ + 4H2O)  2 2.675
= mol
(H2O2  O2 + 2H+ + 2e−)  5 1000
So the mass of iron in the ore
15 a) 5 mol of Fe2+  1 mol MnO4−
2.675
20 cm3 of 0.10 mol dm−3 Fe2+ contains = mol  55.8 g mol−1 = 0.15 g
1000
20
dm−3  0.10 mol dm−3 of Fe2+ 0.15 g
1000  % iron in the iron ore = 1.34 g  100 =
2
= mol of Fe2+ 11.2%
1000
17 a) i) 2Cu2+(aq) + 4I−(aq)  2CuI(s) + I2(aq)
So, the amount of MnO4− reacting
2 1 ii) I2(aq) + 2S2O32−(aq)
=  mol  2I−(aq) + S4O62−(aq)
1000 5
b) 2 mol S2O32−  1 mol I2  2 mol Cu2+
If V cm3 of 0.02 mol dm−3 MnO4−
2 1 Amount of S2O32− reacting
contains  mol, 22.5
1000 5 = dm3  0.14 mol dm−3
V 1000
then dm3  0.02 mol dm−3 3.15
1000 = mol
V 2 1 1000
=  0.02 mol =  mol 3.15
1000 1000 5 So the amount of Cu2+ reacting = mol
1000
 V = 20 cm3  Mass of copper reacting
b) 5 mol of H2O2  2 mol MnO4 −
3.15
= mol  63.5 g mol−1
3 −3
20 cm of 0.200 mol dm H2O2 contains 1000
20 = 0.20 g
dm3  0.20 mol dm−3 of H2O2
1000 0.20 g
4 % of copper in the alloy = 0.275 g  100
= mol
1000
So, the amount of MnO4− reacting = 72.7%
4 2 18 a) Mg(s)  Mg2+(aq) + 2e−
=   mol
1000 5 Cu2+(aq) + 2e−  Cu(s)
If V cm3 of 0.02 mol dm−3 MnO4− contains Mg(s) + Cu2+(aq)  Mg2+(aq) + Cu(s)
4 2
  mol, then Mg is oxidised and Cu2+ is reduced.
1000 5
V 4 2 b)
 0.02 mol =  mol Cl2(aq) + 2e−  2Cl−(aq)
1000 1000 5
 V = 80 cm3 2Br−(aq)  Br2(aq) + 2e−
16 The half-equations for the reaction are: Cl2(aq) + 2Br−(aq)  2Cl−(aq) +
MnO4− + 8H+ + 5e−  Mn2+ + 4H2O Cl is reduced and BrBr
2
− 2(aq)
is oxidised.
and (Fe2+  Fe3+ + e−)  5
c) 2Ag+(aq) + 2e−  2Ag(s)
 5 mol Fe2+  1 mol MnO4−
Cu(s)  Cu2+(aq) + 2e−
Amount of MnO4− reacting
26.75 2Ag+(aq) + Cu(s)  2Ag(s) + Cu2+
= dm3  0.02 mol dm−3 (aq)
1000 Ag+ is reduced and Cu(s) is oxidised.
0.535
= mol
1000

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 10 Redox equilibria Answers

19 a) Cu(s)  Cu2+(aq) + 2e− c) Pt2Cl−(aq), Cl2(aq)

2Ag+(aq) + 2e−  2Ag(s) [PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq)],[Pb2+(aq) +
b) Cu(s)Cu2+(aq) Ag+(aq)Ag(s) 2H2O(l)]Pt
Ecell = +0.46 V Ecell = +0.10 V
+ −
20 It is difficult to maintain a constant pressure of PbO2(s) + 4H (aq) + 2Cl (aq)
hydrogen gas and an equilibrium of H+(aq) and  Pb2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) + Cl2(aq)
H2(g) on the platinum black electrode. 26 a) Li > K > Ca > Na > Mg
The requirement to use hydrogen gas also b) Zn > Fe > Sn > Pb > Cu
involves a possible risk of hydrogen exploding 27 a) H2O2 > MnO4− > Cr2O72− > Fe3+
with oxygen in the air if a spark or flame is b) H2O2 > ClO− > Cl2 > Br2 > O2
nearby. 28 Sodium reacts violently with water and cannot be
21 Because it is a good conductor and also very used as an electrode in aqueous systems.
unreactive so it will not interfere with the redox 29 a) Zn(s) + 2Ag+(aq)  Zn2+(aq) + 2Ag(s)
reaction being investigated. b) No reaction
22 a) Sn2+(aq) + 2e−  Sn(s) E = 0.14 V c) 2Cr(s) + 6H+(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 3H2(g)
b) Br2(aq) + 2e  2Br (aq)
− −
E = +1.07 V d) Ca(s) + 2H+(aq)  Ca2+(aq) + H2(g)
c) Cr (aq) + 3e  Cr(s)
3+ −
e) No reaction
E = 1.01 + 0.27 = 0.74 V f) No reaction
23 Pt[H2(g)]2H (aq) Cu2+(aq)Cu(s)
+
g) Cl2(aq) + 2I−(aq)  2Cl−(aq) + I2(aq)
Ecell = +0.34 V 30 a) Cu2+(aq) + e−  Cu+(aq) E = +0.15 V
2+ 2+
Cu(s)Cu (aq) Pb (aq)Pb(s) Cu (aq) + e  Cu(s)
+ −
E = +0.52 V
Ecell = 0.47 V b) So, a redox reaction involving these two half-
 Pt[H2(g)]2H (aq) Pb (aq)Pb(s)
+ 2+
reactions will involve Cu+(aq) forming Cu(s)
Ecell = 0.13 V as in the lower half-equation, while Cu+(aq)
24 a) The e.m.f. when a calomel electrode is forms Cu2+(aq) according to the upper half-
connected to a standard hydrogen electrode is equation. The overall standard cell potential is
+0.27 V. +0.37 V.
The e.m.f. when a standard Cu2+(aq)Cu(s) Cu+(aq) + e−  Cu(s) E = +0.52 V
electrode is connected to a standard hydrogen Cu (aq)  Cu (aq) + e
+ 2+ −
E = 0.15 V
electrode is +0.34 V. overall:2Cu +
(aq)  Cu(s) + Cu 2+
(aq) Ecell = +0.37 

So, the e.m.f. when a calomel electrode is V

connected to a standard Cu2+(aq)Cu(s)
electrode is + 0.07 V and the positive
electrode is Cu2+(aq)Cu(s).
b) At the calomel electrode:
2Hg(l) + 2Cl−(aq)  Hg2Cl2(s) + 2e−
At the Cu2+(aq)/Cu(s) electrode:
Cu2+(aq) + 2e−  Cu(s)
25 a) Zn(s)Zn2+(aq) V3+(aq), V2+(aq)Pt
Ecell = +0.50 V
Zn(s) + 2V (aq)  Zn (aq) + 2V2+(aq)
3+ 2+
b) Pt2I−(aq), I2(aq) Br2(aq), 2Br−(aq)Pt
Ecell = +0.55 V
Br2(aq) + 2I (aq)  2Br (aq) + I2(aq)
− −
So, Cu+ is both oxidised to Cu2+ and reduced
to Cu. This is an example of
disproportionation.
31 ● The high cost of leadacid batteries.
● The low power/weight ratio of leadacid
batteries.
● The limited mileage before charging is
necessary.
32 Because milk floats have a limited mileage each
day; they only travel slowly and there is
sufficient time to recharge the lead–acid cells
between one day and the next.
33 a) Pb2+(aq) + 2e−  Pb(s) E =  0.13 V
b) 2 V

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 10 Redox equilibria Answers

c) Pb(s)Pb2+(aq) [PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq)], would be totally impractical at service

[Pb2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)]Pb(s) Ecell = +2.0 V stations.
Pb(s)  Pb (aq) + 2e
2+ −
E = +0.13 V 36 a) Because of the rapidly increasing number of
 [PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq)], [Pb2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)]Pb(s) serious road accidents due to drinking and
E = +1.87 V driving.
+
d) Pb(s) + PbO2(s) + 4H (aq) b) Because a more precise and more reliable test
 2Pb2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) was needed.
e) During recharge: c) Because the ethanol fuel cell test does not
Cathode: Pb2+(aq) + 2e−  Pb(s) give an immediate and direct print-out of the
(in PbSO4) test result which can be used in court.
Anode: Pb2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) 37 Because the OH bonds in water vapour in the
(in PbSO4) breath would absorb IR radiation at the same
 PbO2(s)+ 4H+(aq)+ 2e−
34 The reaction of hydrogen with oxygen is very frequency as the OH bond in ethanol.
exothermic. In the reaction, hydrogen acts as a 38 a) The CH bonds in propanone will absorb IR
fuel and the energy (heat) produced per gram of radiation at 2950 cm−1 in the same way as
hydrogen is higher than the energy produced per CH bonds in ethanol.
gram of any other fuel. b) By measuring the concentration of propanone
35 ● There are difficulties in carrying and in the diabetic driver’s breath using IR
transporting hydrogen. spectroscopy and absorption due to the C=O
● Hydrogen is highly flammable/explosive bond in propanone. Then determine the
when mixed with air/oxygen. absorption at 2950 cm−1 due to this
● Refuelling vehicles with liquid hydrogen concentration of propanone, and subtract this
could not be managed and handled safely, and value from the overall absorption at 2950 cm−1
in the normal IR breath test.

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