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Chapter 17: Problem 3

Explain how oxidation numbers are used to identify redox reactions?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Oxidation numbers are used to identify redox reactions by monitoring the change in these numbers from reactants to products. If one or more atoms in the reaction have different oxidation numbers between the reactant and product sides of the reaction, a redox reaction has occurred.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Oxidation Numbers

An oxidation number is a positive or negative number assigned to an atom to indicate its degree of oxidation or reduction. In other words, it refers to the electric charge an atom would have if all its bonds to atoms of other elements were 100% ionic.
02

Recognize Oxidation and Reduction

In terms of oxidation numbers, we define reduction as the decrease in oxidation number of an atom in a substance. On the opposite, oxidation is defined as the increase in oxidation number of an atom in a substance.
03

Identify Redox Reactions

Once these terms are understood, a redox or reduction-oxidation reaction can be identified. Redox reactions are the ones where oxidation numbers of atoms change during the reaction. This is due to the fact that there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another, leading to changes in oxidation numbers.

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