bartleby

Concept explainers

Question
Chapter 19, Problem 1E
Interpretation Introduction

To determine: Define oxidation and reduction and the basic procedure for balancing redox reactions.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1E

Solution:

Oxidation is the loss of electrons. Reduction is the gain of electrons.

Explanation of Solution

When an atom loses electrons, it undergoes oxidation and has an increase in its oxidation state, which is an increase in the charge. The reverse is true for a reduction, where reduction is when an atom gains electrons and has a decrease in oxidation state which decreases the charge on the atom. To properly balance a redox reaction, you must balance both number of atoms on each side of the reaction and the charge. Therefore, we use something called the half-reaction method of balancing which is described below:

  Al(s)+Cu2+(aq)Al3+(aq)+Cu(s)

First you can assign oxidation states to each atom to find which atoms are being oxidized and reduced. We can see that Al goes from a charge of 0 to 3+, therefore, it is being oxidized. The Cu goes from 2+ to 0, which is a reduction. So, now we separate the two processes into two half reactions:

Oxidation:

AlAl3+

Reduction:

Cu2+Cu

Now, we need to balance the atoms of each half reaction, but in this case they are already balanced. The next step is to balance the reaction regarding charges, so to counter the positive charge on either side of the reaction; we add electrons to make the charge equal on both sides:

  AlAl3++3e

  Cu2++2eCu

Now, we make the electrons in both half reactions equal, so we can multiply the top reaction by 2, and the bottom reaction by 3 resulting in 6 electrons total in each reaction:

  2Al2Al 3++6e3Cu 2++6e3Cu

Now, we can combine the two half reactions and cancelling any similar terms on both sides:

  2Al +3Cu2+2Al3++3Cu

Conclusion

Oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons. To properly balance the reactions, we use half reactions which separate the oxidation and reduction. Then we ultimately balance the atoms and charges, multiply each reaction so the electrons are the same in each reaction, and then combine the reactions to obtain the overall balanced reaction equation.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Chapter 19 Solutions

Chemistry: Structure and Properties Plus Mastering Chemistry with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (2nd Edition) (New Chemistry Titles from Niva Tro)

Ch. 19 - How is the cell potential of an electrochemical...Ch. 19 - Prob. 12ECh. 19 - Prob. 13ECh. 19 - How can Table 19.1be used to predict whether or...Ch. 19 - Explain why Ecell , Grxn , and K are all...Ch. 19 - Does a redox reaction with a small equilibrium...Ch. 19 - How does Ecell depend on the concentrations of the...Ch. 19 - Prob. 18ECh. 19 - What is a concentration electrochemical cell?Ch. 19 - What are the anode and cathode reactions in a...Ch. 19 - What are the anode and cathode reactions in a...Ch. 19 - Prob. 22ECh. 19 - What is a fuel cell? What is the most common type...Ch. 19 - The anode of an electrolytic cell must be...Ch. 19 - What species is oxidized, and what species is...Ch. 19 - If an electrolytic cell contains a mixture of...Ch. 19 - Why does the electrolysis of an aqueous sodium...Ch. 19 - What is overvoltage in an electrochemical cell?...Ch. 19 - How is the amount of current flowing through an...Ch. 19 - Prob. 30ECh. 19 - Prob. 31ECh. 19 - Prob. 32ECh. 19 - Balance each redox reaction occurring in acidic...Ch. 19 - Prob. 34ECh. 19 - Balance each redox reaction occurring in acidic...Ch. 19 - Prob. 36ECh. 19 - Prob. 37ECh. 19 - Balance each redox reaction occurring in basic...Ch. 19 - Prob. 39ECh. 19 - Prob. 40ECh. 19 - Calculate the standard cell potential for each of...Ch. 19 - Prob. 42ECh. 19 - Consider the voltaic cell: Determine the direction...Ch. 19 - Prob. 44ECh. 19 - Use line notation to represent each...Ch. 19 - Use line notation to represent each...Ch. 19 - a sketch of the voltaic cell represented by the...Ch. 19 - Prob. 48ECh. 19 - Determine whether or not each redox reaction...Ch. 19 - Prob. 50ECh. 19 - Which metal could you use to reduce Mn2+ ions but...Ch. 19 - Prob. 52ECh. 19 - Prob. 53ECh. 19 - Prob. 54ECh. 19 - Prob. 55ECh. 19 - Prob. 56ECh. 19 - Calculate Ecell for each balanced redox reaction...Ch. 19 - Prob. 58ECh. 19 - Prob. 59ECh. 19 - Which metal is the best reducing agent? Mn Al Ni...Ch. 19 - Use tabulated electrode potentials to calculate...Ch. 19 - Use tabulated electrode potentials to calculate...Ch. 19 - Prob. 63ECh. 19 - Calculate the equilibrium constant for each of the...Ch. 19 - Calculate the equilibrium constant for the...Ch. 19 - Prob. 66ECh. 19 - Calculate Grxn and Ecell for a redox reaction with...Ch. 19 - Prob. 68ECh. 19 - Prob. 69ECh. 19 - Prob. 70ECh. 19 - Prob. 71ECh. 19 - Prob. 72ECh. 19 - Prob. 73ECh. 19 - Prob. 74ECh. 19 - Prob. 75ECh. 19 - Consider the concentration cell: Label the anode...Ch. 19 - Prob. 77ECh. 19 - Prob. 78ECh. 19 - Prob. 79ECh. 19 - Prob. 80ECh. 19 - Refer to the tabulated values of Gf in Appendix...Ch. 19 - Refer to the tabulated values of Gf in Appendix...Ch. 19 - Prob. 83ECh. 19 - Prob. 84ECh. 19 - Prob. 85ECh. 19 - Prob. 86ECh. 19 - Prob. 87ECh. 19 - Which products are obtained in the electrolysis of...Ch. 19 - Write equations for the half-reactions that occur...Ch. 19 - Which products are obtained in the electrolysis of...Ch. 19 - Prob. 91ECh. 19 - Write equations for the half-reactions that occur...Ch. 19 - Prob. 93ECh. 19 - Prob. 94ECh. 19 - Prob. 95ECh. 19 - Silver can be electroplated at the cathode of an...Ch. 19 - A major source of sodium metal is the electrolysis...Ch. 19 - Prob. 98ECh. 19 - Prob. 99ECh. 19 - Prob. 100ECh. 19 - Consider the molecular view of an AL strip and...Ch. 19 - Consider the molecular view of an electrochemical...Ch. 19 - Prob. 103ECh. 19 - Prob. 104ECh. 19 - The cell potential of this electrochemical cell...Ch. 19 - Prob. 106ECh. 19 - Prob. 107ECh. 19 - Consider the reaction shown here occurring at...Ch. 19 - Prob. 109ECh. 19 - What voltage can theoretically be achieved in a...Ch. 19 - A battery relies on the oxidation of magnesium and...Ch. 19 - A rechargeable battery is constructed based on a...Ch. 19 - If a water electrolysis cell operates at a current...Ch. 19 - Prob. 114ECh. 19 - Prob. 115ECh. 19 - Prob. 116ECh. 19 - Calculate Grxn and K for each reaction. The...Ch. 19 - Calculate Grxn and K for each reaction. The...Ch. 19 - The molar mass of a metal (M) is 50.9 g/mol; it...Ch. 19 - A metal forms the fluoride MF3. Electrolysis of...Ch. 19 - A sample of impure tin of mass 0.535 g is...Ch. 19 - Prob. 122ECh. 19 - Prob. 123ECh. 19 - A 215 mL sample of a 0.500 M NaCl solution with an...Ch. 19 - Prob. 125ECh. 19 - Prob. 126ECh. 19 - Prob. 127ECh. 19 - Prob. 128ECh. 19 - Prob. 129ECh. 19 - Prob. 130ECh. 19 - Prob. 131ECh. 19 - Three electrolytic cells are connected in a...Ch. 19 - Prob. 133ECh. 19 - Prob. 134ECh. 19 - Prob. 135ECh. 19 - Prob. 136ECh. 19 - Prob. 137ECh. 19 - Prob. 138ECh. 19 - Prob. 139ECh. 19 - Prob. 140ECh. 19 - Design a device that uses as electrochemical cell...Ch. 19 - Using a library or the Internet, research a fuel...Ch. 19 - Prob. 143ECh. 19 - Balance the redox reaction equation (occurring in...Ch. 19 - Prob. 2SAQCh. 19 - Prob. 3SAQCh. 19 - Refer to Table 19.1 to determine which statement...Ch. 19 - Prob. 5SAQCh. 19 - The Zn/Zn2+ electrode has a standard electrode...Ch. 19 - Refer to Table 19.1 to calculate G for the...Ch. 19 - A redox reaction has an Ecell=0.56V . What can you...Ch. 19 - Prob. 9SAQCh. 19 - Prob. 10SAQCh. 19 - Prob. 11SAQCh. 19 - Prob. 12SAQCh. 19 - Which reaction occurs at the cathode of an...Ch. 19 - Copper is plated onto the cathode of an...Ch. 19 - Prob. 15SAQ
Knowledge Booster
Chemistry
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, chemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
  • Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305957404
    Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781259911156
    Author:Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
    Principles of Instrumental Analysis
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305577213
    Author:Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
  • Organic Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9780078021558
    Author:Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
    Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305079373
    Author:William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind...
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781118431221
    Author:Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
    Publisher:WILEY
  • Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305957404
    Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781259911156
    Author:Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
    Principles of Instrumental Analysis
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305577213
    Author:Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Organic Chemistry
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9780078021558
    Author:Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
    Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781305079373
    Author:William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind...
    Chemistry
    ISBN:9781118431221
    Author:Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
    Publisher:WILEY