Oxidation and Reduction

By: Katie Sinclair Introduction: When two reactants are combined, it is common for one reactant to attract electrons of another atom, possibly causing the atoms to stabilize or become charged. A redox reaction occurs when there is a shift in electron density between atoms. Reduction is when an atom gains electron density, while oxidation is when an atom loses electron density. The reducing agent is the reactant that gains electrons during the reaction, effectively causing another reactant to become reduced. Similarly, the oxidizing agent is the reactant which loses electrons during a reaction, causing another reactant to become oxidized. Some atoms are more easily reduced and oxidized than others, which can be observed through experimental observation. Purpose: To test and observe the reaction of metals and halogens combined with different metallic and halide ions in order to estimate the ease with which each can be reduced. Materials / Procedure: See handout titled An Introduction to Oxidation Reduction. Observations: See attached observation sheets. Analysis: 1) The copper ions were reduced by two metals, zinc and lead. The lead ions were reduced by one metal, zinc. The zinc ions were not reduced by any of the metals. 2) Ag Cu Pb Zn 3) Pb Cu Cu + + + + + + + 1e 2e 2e 2e Zn Zn Pb Ag Cu Pb Zn Pb Cu Cu + + + Zn Zn Pb

4) The aqueous chlorine was reduced by two of the halide ions, bromide and iodide. The aqueous bromine was reduced by one of the halide ions, iodide. The aqueous iodine was not reduced by any of the halide ions. 5) Cl Br I 6) Cl Cl Br 7) Cl Br Ag I Cu Pb Zn + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2e 2e 2e 2Br 2I 2I 2e 2e e 2e 2e 2e 2e 2Cl 2Br 2I 2Cl 2Cl 2Br 2Cl 2Br Ag 2I Cu Pb Zn + + + Br I I

8) a) It would not be feasible to store a solution of copper sulfate in a container made of metallic zinc. This is because the copper ions in the copper sulfate are stronger oxidizing agents than zinc metal, meaning that they will donate ions to the zinc metal in order to stabilize. This will spontaneously react to form copper metal and zinc ions, meaning that storing copper sulfate in a metallic zinc container would not work. b) It would be feasible to store a solution of copper sulfate in a container made of metallic silver. This is because the copper ions in the copper sulfate are not strong enough oxidizing agents to pull electrons away from the stable silver metal. There will be no spontaneous reaction meaning that it is possible to store copper sulfate solution in a metallic silver container. c)It would be expected that jewelery made from an alloy of silver and copper would tarnish when bromine fumes are present. This is because bromine is a stronger oxidizing agent than both copper and silver, meaning that bromine atoms are capable of taking electrons from both metals, effectively oxidizing them, in order to stabilize.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that some metals and halogens, as well as their metallic and halide ion counterparts, are all oxidized and reduced with a certain amount of ease relative to each other. With the empirical data gained from this experiment, a table was formed displaying the order of strongest oxidizing agents to weakest oxidizing agents. When observing the other side of the table, the weakest reducing agents to strongest reducing agents are shown. Using this table, it is possible to predict which reactants will react during an experiment, as well as which atoms or ions will be oxidized or reduced based on the strength of the oxidizing and reducing agents used. This is useful because it can be determined what will happen in a reaction before actually trying it, reducing the risk of a potentially dangerous reaction, or eliminating the need to experiment with reactants that will not have a chemical reaction.