Practice: Intro to redox

Compared to the ‘big boys of organic chemistry’ (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur), hydrogen is at holding on to electrons. _{[ good || bad ]}

If losing hydrogen is the same thing as losing an electron, oxidation can therefore be defined as the of hydrogen  _{[ loss || gain ]}

In the reaction 2H₂S + 2O₂ → S + 2H₂O , sulfur is _{[ oxidized || reduced ]} because it _{[ gains  || loses ]} hydrogen.

A way to remember oxidation is to think that when an element is oxidized, its electrons are stolen. It is therefore made to feel _{[ awkward || stupid ]} , so it has been “awksidized”.

A way to remember reduction is to imagine that when an element is reduced, it is really ‘deuced’, so _{[ protons || electrons ]} are thrown towards it. So we are thinking of an electron as a baseball.

A substance that is good at gaining electrons by stealing them from others is a good agent _{[ oxidizing || reducing ]}. (Remember that when you steal electrons from other atoms you make them feel ‘awkward’.)

A substance that is good at donating electrons to others is a good agent _{[ oxidizing || reducing ]} (Remember that when you donate, or ‘throw’, electrons to other atoms, you ‘deuce’ them.