consider the reaction between iron and chlorine shown below. Write the balanced half-reaction equation for the oxidation reaction and for the reduction reaction that takes place.

Question

Answer 1

Hi Seira,

That's a good question! For writing oxidation and reduction reactions, we'll have to remember that losing electrons is oxidation, and gaining electrons is reduction (LEO the lion says GER, as my old high school teacher used to tell us).

In this reaction, iron (in its natural state, therefore having an oxidation state of 0), is changing to Fe²⁺, and chlorine (also in it's natural state as a diatomic gas, oxidation state of 0), is changing to 2 Cl^-.

Effectively iron is being oxidized and chlorine is being reduced, so our half reactions would be:

Oxidation: Fe → Fe²⁺ + 2 e^-

Reduction: Cl₂ + 2 e^- → 2 Cl^-

Hope that helps!

-Niral