Oxidation/Reduction

[McKenna_4A]

When being asked what Reactant is Oxidized/Reduced, Do we consider the whole molecule or just the atom?

[Vicki Liu 2L]

Generally, you consider just the atom in terms of finding the change in oxidation number. However, when writing the actual half-reaction, you use the whole molecule because it cannot be separated (unless it's a soluble ionic compound).

[sarahforman_Dis2I]

When being asked what Reactant is Oxidized/Reduced, Do we consider the whole molecule or just the atom?

Generally, you would think of an atom being oxidized or reduced, not necessarily a molecule. If you look at the half reactions, most of them will be expressed in terms of atoms (not full molecules). I hope this helps!

[Astrid Lunde 1I]

Find the change in oxidation number for an atom. If the oxidation number decreases from reactants to products then it is reduction. If the oxidation number increases from reactants to products then it is oxidized.

[Micah3J]

Is it possible to have more than one reducing or oxidizing agent in a reaction?

[Ruby Richter 2L]

When adding reactions and in the final state how do you determine what physical state everything is in?

[Tiffany_Chen 2K]

When adding reactions and in the final state how do you determine what physical state everything is in?

You should be able to tell the states given the half reactions. Soluble compounds can also form (from reactant solids).

[Micah3J]

Can someone explain what makes a molecule a reducing agent or an oxidizing agent?

[Brooke Yasuda 2J]

A reducing agent has a tendency to reduce another species (which means it itself is being oxidized) and an oxidizing agent has a tendency to oxidize another species (which means it itself is being reduced). The way you determine if something is an oxidizing or reducing agent is by looking at the electric cell potential. The objective is to have a favorable reaction, and therefore, a positive cell potential. So, when looking at a redox reaction and the corresponding to reduction or oxidation cell potentials of the half reactions, the species in the anode and cathode can be determined by which will produce a spontaneous reaction.

[ValerieChavarin 4F]

You take a look at the change in oxidation number. The molecule that is being reduce deceased in the oxidation number such as Cu2^+(aq)→ Cu(s), while the species being oxidized increases in the oxidation number Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq)

*These examples can be found in RedOx reactions Part 1 sheet with further explanation.*

[William Francis 2E]

Only one element acts as an oxidizing or reducing agent in any given half reaction. For instance, in the reduction half reaction MnO₂+4H⁺+2e^--->Mn²⁺+2H2O, Mn acts as the oxidizing agent as it's oxidation number decreases from positive four to positive 2. However, the entire molecule Mn is initially a part of is said to have been reduced; one would say, "MnO₂ was reduced to Mn²⁺" even though oxygen was not involved as an oxidizing agent in the reduction half reaction.

[205154661_Dis2J]

In Test 2, we were asked what species was being oxidized/reduced and for those, we looked at the molecule being reduced or oxidized.

[kausalya_1k]

I believe we look at the ion itself (Within the molecule) to calculate the oxidation number and then determine which species gained an electron and which one lost an electron

[Cavalli_1H]

you would generally look for the reduction/ oxidation of the atom which is why we look more closely at half reactions

[Rafsan Rana 1A]

To add on, the reducing agent is basically the molecules getting oxidized because it releases the electron that is added and reducing the other molecule. In the same sense, the oxidizing agent is the molecules getting reduced.

[zfinn]

i look at the atom to determine it, but when asking for the species put the whole molecule

[Aarushi Solanki 4F]

You only consider the atom within the molecule because although molecules do have overall charges, the oxidation number of the atom will change with respect to which molecule its in as a reactant versus as a product.

[Ashley Nguyen 2L]

You would consider one specific atom within a molecule