C'mon. Find the caps key and use it.
Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Hint: Fe is zero on the left and +3 on the right.
Ag is +1 on the left and zero on the right.
so which lost electrons?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Hint: Fe is zero on the left and +3 on the right.
Ag is +1 on the left and zero on the right.
so which lost electrons?
Let's write the oxidation half-reaction for iron (Fe):
Fe(s) -> Fe3+(aq) + 3e-
In this half-reaction, Fe is being oxidized from its elemental state (0 oxidation state) to Fe3+ (with a +3 oxidation state) by losing three electrons (e-).
In this reaction, iron (Fe) is being oxidized because it is going from a zero oxidation state (as an element) to a positive oxidation state in the compound Fe(NO3)3.
To write the oxidation half-reaction, we need to show the change in oxidation state of the element. The oxidation state of Fe changes from 0 to +3 in Fe(NO3)3.
Therefore, the oxidation half-reaction for Fe is:
Fe(s) -> Fe3+(aq) + 3e-
This equation shows that solid iron (Fe) loses three electrons (e-) to form Fe3+ ions in the aqueous solution.