Textbook Question
Use oxidation numbers to determine which of the following are redox reactions.
(d)
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds
Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
4:21 minutesProblem 44d
Textbook Question
Determine whether the following reactions are redox reactions. If they are, identify whether the molecule has been oxidized or reduced.
(d) 
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand what constitutes a redox reaction. A redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction involves the transfer of electrons between two species. It consists of two half-reactions: oxidation (loss of electrons) and reduction (gain of electrons).
Step 2: Identify the oxidation states of the atoms involved in the reaction. Assign oxidation numbers to each atom in the reactants and products. This will help determine if there is a change in oxidation state, indicating a redox process.
Step 3: Compare the oxidation states of the atoms before and after the reaction. Look for any changes in oxidation numbers. An increase in oxidation number indicates oxidation, while a decrease indicates reduction.
Step 4: Determine if the reaction involves both oxidation and reduction. For a reaction to be classified as a redox reaction, there must be a simultaneous occurrence of oxidation and reduction.
Step 5: Identify the species that have been oxidized and reduced. The species whose oxidation number increases is oxidized, and the species whose oxidation number decreases is reduced.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Redox Reactions
Redox reactions, or oxidation-reduction reactions, involve the transfer of electrons between two species. One species undergoes oxidation, losing electrons, while the other undergoes reduction, gaining electrons. Identifying redox reactions requires analyzing changes in oxidation states of the involved elements.
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Oxidation States
The oxidation state, or oxidation number, is a theoretical charge assigned to an atom in a molecule, representing its electron loss or gain. It helps track electron transfer in redox reactions. Changes in oxidation states indicate whether an atom has been oxidized (increase in oxidation state) or reduced (decrease in oxidation state).
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Identifying Oxidized and Reduced Species
To determine which species is oxidized or reduced, compare the oxidation states of each element before and after the reaction. The species whose oxidation state increases is oxidized, while the one whose oxidation state decreases is reduced. This analysis helps in understanding the electron flow and the nature of the redox process.
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