Electrochemistry: Redox

Mr. Jeremiah G. Pedral

Reactions and Galvanic CS- DPS
Cells
Electrochemistry
• is the branch of chemistry that
deals with the interconversion
of electrical energy and
chemical energy.

• It deals directly with

electrons and their
movement. Whether the
electrons move under the
driving forces of
spontaneous chemical
processes or respond to an
applied external electric
potential.
Corrosion
• it is the degradation of metals by chemical
reactions with the environment. Corrosion
generally involves a slow combination of
oxygen with metals to form oxides.

• Uniform corrosion - one of the most visible

forms of corrosion.

• Galvanic corrosion - which occurs only

when two different metals contact each
other in the presence of an appropriate
electrolyte.

• Crevice corrosion - When two pieces of

metal touch each other, they tend to leave a
small gap (unless the joint is covered with a
coating, such as paint). At that gap, or
crevice, the metals are more likely to
corrode.
Oxidation numbers
• defined as number of charges the atom would have in a molecule (or an ionic compound) if
electrons were transferred completely.

• In free elements (that is, in the uncombined state), each atom has an oxidation number of
zero.

• For ions composed of only one atom (that is, monatomic ions), the oxidation number is
equal to the charge on the ion.

• The oxidation number of oxygen in most compounds is 2, but in hydrogen peroxide and
peroxide it is -1.

• The oxidation number of hydrogen is 1 1, except when it is bonded to metals in binary

compounds.

• Fluorine has an oxidation number of -1 in all its compounds. Other halogens (Cl, Br, and I)
have negative oxidation numbers when they occur as halide ions in their compounds.

• In a neutral molecule, the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms must be zero.
Oxidation numbers
Oxidation numbers
Redox Reactions
• considered as electron transfer reactions. Oxidation-reduction reactions are
very much a part of the world around us. They range from the burning of fossil
fuels to the action of household bleach.

• Oxidation - is the loss of electrons from some chemical species

• Reduction - is the gain of electrons

• Half Reactions - which explicitly shows the electrons involved in a redox

reaction.
Redox Reactions
• Reducing agent - a substance that donates electrons to another substance,
causing the latter to be reduced. Magnesium (Mg) is oxidized and is a
reducing agent.

• Oxidizing agent - a substance that accepts electrons from an electron donor

causing it to be reduced and the donor oxidised. Oxygen is reduced and is an
oxidizing agent.
Redox Reactions
Redox Reactions
Redox Reactions
• Suppose we are asked to balance the equation showing the oxidation of Fe2+
ions to Fe3+ ions by dichromate ions (Cr2O72-) in an acidic medium. As a result,
the Cr2O72- ions are reduced to Cr3+ ions.
 Galvanic Cells
• The experimental
apparatus for generating
electricity through the
use of a spontaneous
reaction.

• The anode in a galvanic

cell is the electrode at
which oxidation occurs.
The cathode is the
electrode at which
reduction occurs.
Galvanic Cells
Galvanic Cells
Voltmeter
• an electric current flows from the anode to the cathode because there is a
difference in electrical potential energy between the electrodes.

• the voltage across the electrodes of a galvanic cell is called the cell voltage,
or cell potential also known as electromotive force or emf (E),
Terminology for
Galvanic Cells
• Cell diagrams - the conventional notation for representing galvanic cells.
Standard Reduction
potentials
• the voltage associated with a reduction reaction at an electrode when all
solutes are 1 M and all gases are at 1 atm.
Standard Reduction
potentials
Standard emf
Standard Reduction
potentials
Standard emf
Standard emf
Example
Example
Exercise