REDOX Transfer of electron at a distance

What is means by transfer of electron at a distance? When oxidizing agent and reducing agent solutions is separated by an electrolyte in a U-Tube, redox reactions occur by transfer of electron using connecting wire. This electron transfer is call transfer of electron at a distance.

Look at this diagram :

G

Galvanometer e + Positive terminal Oxidizing agent U-Tube

e Negative terminal Reducing agent Electrolyte

The reducing agent undergoes oxidation (loss of electron) The oxidizing agent undergoes reduction (gain of electron)

Solution that can react as oxidizing agent is the substances that undergoes reduction process
Solution
Acidified potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4 Acidified potassium dichromate(VI) , K2Cr2O7

Half equation (gain of electron) and changes colour of solution

Chlorine, Cl2 Bromine, Br2 Iodine, I2

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ + 4H2O (purple to colourless) Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e 2Cr3+ + 7H2O (orange to green) Cl2 + 2e 2Cl(pale yellow to colourless) Br2 + 2e 2Br(reddish brown to colourless) I2 + 2e 2I(brown to colourless)

Give extra attention to half equation for acidified potassium manganate(VII) solution and acidified potassium dicrhomate(VI)solution.
(fisrt time we see this half equation, must memorize)

Solution that can react as reducing agent is undergoes oxidation process Solution name Iron(II) sulphate, FeSO4 Stanum(II) chloride, SnCl2 Potassium chloride, KCl Half equation (loss of electron) and changes colour of solution Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e (green to brown) Sn2+ Sn4+ + 2e (both of the ions is colourless) 2Cl- Cl2 + 2e (colourless to pale yellow)

Potassium bromide, 2Br- Br2 + 2e KBr (colourless to reddish brown) Potassium iodide, KI 2I- I2 + 2e (colourless to brown)

Remember : i. Electron transfer from reducing agent to oxidizing agent through connecting wire. ii. Carbon/graphite electrode that is immersed in reducing agent act as negative terminal. iii. Carbon/graphite electrode that is immersed in oxidising agent act as positive terminal. iv. The deflection of galvanometer needle shows the electron flowing/moving.
Few reaction that you must know Example 1:

Galvanometer

Negative terminal
iron(II) sulphate solution, FeSO4 0.1 mol dm-3
Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 0.1 mol dm-3

e + Positive terminal
Acidified potassium manganate(VII) solution, KMnO4 0.1 mol dm-3 U-Tube

Can you predict what will happen?

Tips : determine the solution that react as oxidizing agent an reducing agent first. Oxidizing agent Reducing agent : acidified potassium manganate(VII) solution. : iron(II) sulphate solution

If you can identify, the rest will be much easier.

[Look at the list of oxidant and reductant that you have prepared above]

Oxidation process (reducing agent) Half equation : Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e

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1 iron(II)ion /Fe2+ loss 1 electron to produce 1 iron(III)ion/Fe3+ Fe2+ is oxidize to Fe3+ iron(II)ion react as reducing agent oxidation number of iron is increase from +2 to +3 the colour of the solution is turn from (light) green to brown

What will happen to the electrons that has been released? - The electron will be released through negative terminal (carbon that is immersed in iron(II)sulphate solution), and flow through connecting wire to positive terminal (carbon that is immersed in acidified potassium manganate (VII)

solution), so, the galvanometer needle will deflect. Manganate(VII) ion, MnO4- will gain electron and undergoes the reduction process.

Reduction process (oxidizing agent) Half equation: MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ +4H2O 1 Manganate (VII) ion, MnO4- gain 5 electron produce 1 mangan(II) ion, Mn2+ - Manganate(VII) ion is reduced to mangan(II) ion - Mangnate (VII) ion act as oxidizing agent - oxidation number for mangan is decreasing from +7 to +2 - the colour of solution is changes from purple to colourless
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Can you write the total ionic equation for this reaction?

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ + 4H2O 5Fe2+ 5Fe3+ + 5e MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+
How this process is made? Maybe this question will be ask in PAPER2 this year (structure/essay) Example 2:
G

Galvanometer

Bromine water Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 0.1 mol dm-3 Can you predict what will happen?

Potassium iodide solution, KI 0.1 mol dm-3 U-tube

Tips : recognize the solution that react as oxidizing agent and reducing agent first. Oxidising agent : bromine water Reducing agent : potassium iodide solution Negative terminal: The carbon that immersed in potassium iodide solution Positive terminal: The carbon that immersed in bromine solution/water After you have recognize it, the others will be easier. Look at the table that you have prepare above, Oxidation process / (Reducing agent) Half equation : 2I- I2 + 2e 2 iodide ions loss 2 electron to produce 1 molecule of iodine - Iodide ion is oxidize to iodine - Iodide ion react as reducing agent - Oxidation number for iodine increase from -1 to 0. thus oxidation occur - Colourless solution change to brownish yellow
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What will occur to this releasing electron? - This electron will be released through negative terminal - graphite electrode that is immersed in potassium iodide solution, and flow through connecting wire to positive terminal - graphite electrode that is immersed in bromine solution), - Thus, galvanometer needle will deflect. - bromine will gain electron and reduction process will occur. Reduction process

Half equation for reduction

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: Br2 + 2e 2Br-

1 molecule bromine gains 2 electron to produce 2 bromide ion - Bromine is reduce to bromide ion. - Bromine react as oxidizing agent - Oxidation number for bromine decreasing from 0 to -1 - Brownish-yellow solution change to colourless Can you write the total ionic equation for this reaction?

Br2 + 2I 2Br + I2

example 3: (cont 5.1 & 5.2 :28.7.2008)

Galvanometer

stanum(II) chloride solution, SnCl2 0.1 mol dm-3 Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 0.1 mol dm-3

Acidified potassium dichromate solution, K2Cr2O7 U-Tube

Tips : recognize the solution that react as oxidizing agent and reducing agent first. Oxidizing agent : acidified potassium dicrhomate(VI) Terminal positive: Carbon electrod that is immersed into acidified potassium dichromate(VI)

Reducing agent : stanum(II) chloride solution Terminal negative: carbon immersed into stanum(II) chloride solution Oxidation process (reducing agent) Cont: 5.1 Half equation : Sn2+ Sn4+ + 2e [observation: no changes in colour of solution] Cl- Cl2 + 2e [observation: The colour changes from colourless to pale yellow] (depend on the question)
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1 stanum(II) ion loss 2 electrons to produce 1 stanum(IV) ion Stanum(II) ion is oxidize to stanum(IV) ion Stanum(II) ion react as reducing agent Oxidation number for stanum is increasing from +2 to +4

What will occur to this releasing electron?

This electron will be released through negative terminal graphite electrode that is immersed in stanum(II) chloride solution) is negative terminal, and flow through connecting wire to positive terminal electrode that is immersed in acidified potassium dichromate(VI) solution is positive terminal, Galvanometer needle will deflect. Dicrhomate(VI)ion will gain electron and reducing process will occur

Reduction process / (oxidising agent) half equation for reduction: Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
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1 dichromate(VI) ion gain 6 electron to produce 2 chromium(III)ion dichromate(VI) ion is reduced to 2 chromium(III) ion dichromate(VI) ion react as oxidizing agent. Oxidation number for chromium decreasing from +6 to +3 Orange solution turn to green

Can you write the total ionic equation for this reaction?

Can you answer the following question; i. State the electrode that react as positive terminal Carbon electrode that immersed in acidified K2Cr2O7 solution ii. State the electrode that react as negative terminal Carbon electrode that immersed in SnCl2 solution iii. Mark the direction of the flow of current at the wire iv. Name the substance that undergoes oxidation process stanum(II) Ion v. Name the substance that undergoes reduction process dichromate(VI) Ion vi. Name the oxidizing agent Acidified potassium dicrhomate(VI) solution /dikromat(VI)ion vii. Name the reduction agent stanum(II)chloride solution / stanum(II)ion

viii.State the observation at the end of this reaction Colour of solution for acidified potassium dicrhomate(VI)solution change from purple to green ix. Write the half equation for the both electrode Sn2+ ----> Sn4+ + 2e Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e ---> 2Cr2+ + 7H2O x. Write the total ionic equation for this reaction 3Sn2+ + Cr2O72- + 14H+ ---> 3Sn4+ + 2Cr2+ + 7H2O