In the previous post, you have learnt that OXIDATION is the gain of ?oxygen atoms and REDUCTION is the loss of oxygen atoms.
Today, we shall discuss them based on the gain or loss of hydrogen atoms.
OXIDATION is also the loss of hydrogen atoms and REDUCTION is also the gain of hydrogen atoms.
E.g. Reaction of hydrogen sulfide and chlorine to form hydrogen chloride and sulfur
H2S(g) + Cl2(g) –> 2HCl(g) + S(s)
In the above chemical reaction, hydrogen sulfide has lost hydrogen, hence it has been OXIDISED.
Chlorine, on the other hand, has gained hydrogen and is therefore REDUCED.
Hydrogen sulfide is considered the REDUCING AGENT as it has caused the the reduction of chlorine.
Chlorine, on the other hand, has caused the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and is therefore considered to be the OXIDISING AGENT.
In the above chemical reaction, we say it is a?REDOX Reaction since both?OXIDATION and REDUCTION occurs simultaneously.
Note:
An OXIDISING AGENT helps the other substance to get OXIDISED, and itself gets REDUCED.
A REDUCING AGENT helps the other substance to get REDUCED, and itself gets OXIDISED.
Hope you find the above discussion on REDOX Reactions (based on Hydrogen atoms) useful. Feel free to share it with your friends that are taking O-Level Chemistry (or IGCSE, IB and IP Chemistry).
Hmm…before i end this post, how about trying out a question that test you on the above fundamentals?
Quick Check 1:
Copper (II) oxide reacts with hydrogen based on the following equation:
CuO(s) + H2(g) –> Cu(g) + H2O(l)
State the substance that
(i) has been oxidised
(ii) has been reduced
(iii) is the oxidizing agent
(iii) is the reducing agent