Question
Write an example of a redox reaction.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A classic example of a redox reaction is the reaction between zinc and copper(II) sulfate. In this reaction, zinc displaces copper from copper(II) sulfate.
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:
\[ \text{Zn (s)} + \text{CuSO}_4 (aq) \rightarrow \text{Cu (s)} + \text{ZnSO}_4 (aq) \]
In this reaction:
- Zinc (Zn) is oxidized, losing two electrons to form Zn²⁺ ions.
- Copper(II) ions (Cu²⁺) from copper(II) sulfate are reduced, gaining the electrons lost by zinc to form solid copper (Cu).
This can be broken down into half-reactions:
1. Oxidation half-reaction:
\[ \text{Zn (s)} \rightarrow \text{Zn}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^- \]
2. Reduction half-reaction:
\[ \text{Cu}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu (s)} \]
Overall, this reaction illustrates the transfer of electrons, characteristic of redox processes.
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:
\[ \text{Zn (s)} + \text{CuSO}_4 (aq) \rightarrow \text{Cu (s)} + \text{ZnSO}_4 (aq) \]
In this reaction:
- Zinc (Zn) is oxidized, losing two electrons to form Zn²⁺ ions.
- Copper(II) ions (Cu²⁺) from copper(II) sulfate are reduced, gaining the electrons lost by zinc to form solid copper (Cu).
This can be broken down into half-reactions:
1. Oxidation half-reaction:
\[ \text{Zn (s)} \rightarrow \text{Zn}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^- \]
2. Reduction half-reaction:
\[ \text{Cu}^{2+} (aq) + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cu (s)} \]
Overall, this reaction illustrates the transfer of electrons, characteristic of redox processes.