Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Redox Reactions
Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between two species. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction refers to the gain of electrons. Identifying redox reactions requires analyzing changes in oxidation states of the reactants and products.
Recommended video:
General Features of Redox
Oxidation States
The oxidation state is a number assigned to an element in a compound that represents the number of electrons lost or gained by an atom. It helps in determining whether a species is oxidized or reduced in a reaction. Changes in oxidation states indicate electron transfer, crucial for identifying redox processes.
Recommended video:
Ground vs. Excited States
Identifying Oxidized and Reduced Species
To determine which molecule is oxidized or reduced, compare the oxidation states of elements before and after the reaction. The species whose oxidation state increases is oxidized, while the one whose oxidation state decreases is reduced. This analysis is essential for understanding the electron flow in redox reactions.
Recommended video: