Question

RedOx reaction: In      Fe        +          3O₂      →        2Fe₂O₃ reaction, which one is oxidized and which one is reduced? What are the definition of oxidation and reduction?

Answer 1

Ans. In this equation Fe is oxidized to Fe3+ and O2 is reduced to O2- .Therefore, O2 is the oxidizing agent and the reduced element and;Fe is the reducing agent and the oxidized element.

Oxidation:Oxidation is any chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons. Specifically, it means the substance that gives away electrons is oxidized.Oxidation is the loss of electrons.In terms of oxygen transfer, oxidation may be defined as the chemical process in which a substance gains oxygen or loses electrons and hydrogen.

Example : When iron reacts with oxygen it forms a chemical called rust because it has been oxidized (the iron has lost some electrons) and the oxygen has been reduced (the oxygen has gained some electrons).

Formula of rusting is: 4Fe + 3O2 → 2Fe2O3 xH2O→Fe2O3.x H2O

Reduction:Reduction is a chemical reaction that involves the gaining of electrons by one of the atoms involved in the reaction between two chemicals. The term refers to the element that accepts electrons, as the oxidation state of the element that gains electrons is lowered.

Example: when iron reacts with oxygen, forming iron oxides (commonly known as rust). In that example, the iron is oxidized and the oxygen is reduced. This is called redox. A blast furnace reverses that reaction, using carbon monoxide as a reducing agent to reduce the iron.