Question

Example of oxidation and readuction reaction​

Answer 1

Examples of reduction reaction:

The H+ ions, with an oxidation number of +1, are reduced to H2, with an oxidation number of 0, in the reaction:

Zn(s) + 2H+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + H2(g)

Another simple example is the reaction between copper oxide and magnesium to yield copper and magnesium oxide:

CuO + Mg → Cu + MgO

Rusting of iron is a process that involves oxidation and reduction. Oxygen is reduced, while iron is oxidized. While it's easy to identify which species are oxidized and reduced using the "oxygen" definition of oxidation and reduction, it's harder to visualize electrons. One way to do this is to rewrite the reaction as an ionic equation. Copper(II) oxide and magnesium oxide are ionic compounds, while the metals are not:

Cu2+ + Mg → Cu + Mg2+

The copper ion undergoes reduction by gaining electrons to form copper. The magnesium undergoes oxidation by losing electrons to form the 2+ cation. Or, you can view it as magnesium reducing the copper(II) ions by donating electrons. Magnesium acts as a reducing agent. In the meantime, the copper(II) ions remove electrons from magnesium to form magnesium ions. The copper(II) ions are the oxidizing agent.

Another example is the reaction that extracts iron from iron ore:

Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3 CO2

The iron oxide undergoes reduction (loses oxygen) to form iron while the carbon monoxide is oxidized (gains oxygen) to form carbon dioxide. In this context, iron(III) oxide is the oxidizing agent, which gives oxygen to another molecule. Carbon monoxide is the reducing agent, which removes oxygen from a chemical species.