Control questions
Q1. What is oxidation?
Answer: Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which the atoms or ions of an
element acquire a more positive oxidation state by losing
electrons.
Q2. What is reduction?
Answer: Reduction is a chemical reaction in which the atoms or ions of an
element acquire a more negative oxidation state by gaining
electrons.
Q3. What determines whether a chemical reaction is a redox
reaction?
Answer: Only those reactions in which elements undergo a change in oxidation
number (state)
Q4. What effect does oxidation have on the oxidation number of a
substance?
Answer: The oxidation number becomes more positive even though it may remain
negative.
Q5. What effect does reduction have on the oxidation number of a
substance?
Answer: The oxidation number becomes more negative even though it may remain
positive.
Q6. What is the difference between an oxidizing agent and a reducing
agent?
Answer: The oxidizing agent is reduced or acquires a more negative oxidation
state and the reducing agent is oxidized or acquires a more positive oxidation
state.
Q7. Why are the Group VII elements (halogens) very strong oxidizing
agents?
Answer: The relatively small atomic radii of the halogens results in a
strong force of attraction between the positive nuclei and the seven valence
electrons.
Q8. What is the relationship between the strength of an oxidizing agent
and its corresponding reducing agent?
Answer: The stronger an oxidizing agent, the weaker its corresponding
reducing agent.
Q9. In a balanced redox equation, how does the total number of reactant
molecules compare with the total number of product
molecules?
Answer: As in all chemical reactions, there is no relationship that exists
between the number of reactant and product molecules.
Q10. What is the strongest reducing agent among the
elements?
Answer: Lithium.
Q11. What is the strongest oxidizing agent among the
elements?
Answer: Fluorine.