Determining reduction or oxidation

[Nathan Sanchez 1F]

How do I know a specific reaction with an ion is more inclined to be strongly oxidizing or strongly reducing? Can I determine that just by the characteristics of the ions in question?

[Jenny2G]

You need to find the charge on the ion in the reactant and then see the charge change in the product. So if a reactant had cr3+ but had a charge of 2+ in the products it is a reduction because it gained one electron.

[Vincent Tse 2B]

Typically you'll be given cell reduction potentials for redox reactions. With the values, you determine the oxidizing and reducing power of each reaction for the observed species.

For example, the more positive the cell reduction potential is, the stronger the reduction power. The less positive, the weaker the reduction power but stronger in oxidizing power.

[melissa carey 1f]

The ion which is reduced will gain electrons, and its oxidation number will decrease. On the other hand, the ion which is oxidized will lose electrons and its oxidation number will increase.

[Wayland Leung]

In class we also learned the "LEO" acronym, where loss of electrons is oxidation. That could be a easy way to memorize what oxidation is.