Redox

• Redox is the transfer of electrons from one reactant to another
• Oxidation is the loss of electrons
• Reduction is the gain of electrons
• Typically, metals are oxidized and non-metals are reduced
• Reducing agent causes another reactant to gain electrons and self oxidises
• Oxidizing agent causes another reactant to reduce electrons
• Acidic conditions have excess H+ ions
• Conjugate redox pair is the oxidizing/reducing agent and its corresponding ozidzing/reducing agent
• Electron on left hand represents reduction, vice versa
• The lower the E the stronger the reducing agent (it oxidises)
• The higher the E the stronger the oxidising agent (it reduces)
• Dichromate ions are often used as the strong oxidizing agents