how to know if is the reaction a redox reaction or not?

Question

kainui · Answer

Redox is really short for Reduction and Oxidation. Now what the hell does that mean? Reduction means gaining a slightly negative charge and oxidation means gaining a slightly positive charge. This is done only partially in molecules, and these are called oxidation states. An example might be the synthesis of water from oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen is highly electronegative, and we know this by looking at the periodic table. The elements that are further to the right tend to be more negative since they can become more stable by gaining electrons into their valence shell. This gives them an electron configuration similar to that of the noble gases which are the least reactive elements. So, back to the reaction, when oxygen and hydrogen bond, oxygen shares electrons with hydrogen, but since oxygen is more electronegative, oxygen ends up pulling the electrons from hydrogen more often giving water molecules a positive charge on the hydrogen ends and negative charge on the oxygen end.

So a quick recap. Before the redox reaction hydrogen was neutrally charged, oxygen was neutrally charged, but once they bonded, each atom in the molecule got a slight charge due to their difference in electronegativity.

The main kinds of redox reactions are: Acid-base, combustion, single displacement, double displacement, decomposition, and synthesis. If it isn't one of those, it's likely not a redox reaction.

I hope that helps, I can help clarify anything if you're unclear, I don't know what you know already, so I made it pretty general, but there are things I could elaborate on if you need me to!

anonymous · Answer

All reactions are redox reaction actually..No oxidation can occur without a corersponding reduction of some other species...

kainui · Answer

Although it is true that you can't have a reduction without a corresponding oxidation, not all reactions are redox reactions. Redox reactions are simply a group of reactions commonly encountered in chemistry in which there is a change of oxidation states. But don't confuse this as meaning every reaction is a redox reaction.