PP Presentation

Another example of an OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTION

Fe2O3 (s) + 3 CO (g) ® 2 Fe (s) + 3 CO2 (g)

Species Fe in Fe2O3 C in CO Fe C in CO2

O.N. +3 +2 0 +4

Thus:

Fe in Fe2O3 GAINS 3 electrons - Fe2O3 is the OXIDIZING AGENT

C in CO LOSES 2 electrons - CO is the REDUCING AGENT

The iron in Fe2O3 was REDUCED to Fe

The carbon in CO was OXIDIZED to CO2

NOTES:

• oxidation-reduction reactions DO NOT require ions; can involve gases
• OXIDATION NUMBERS do not represent actual charge
  - rather they are a convenient book-keeping device which help to identify and classify reactions

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