What is a redox reaction ? When a magnesium ribbon burns in air with a dazzling flame and forms a white ash, is magnesium oxidised or reduced ?
What is a redox reaction ? When a magnesium ribbon burns in air with a dazzling flame and forms a white ash, is magnesium oxidised or reduced ?
Those reactions, in which oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously, are called redox reactions. In these reactions one substance is oxidised and another substance gets reduced.
When a magnesium ribbon burns to form a white ash, magnesium metal is oxidised in this reaction because it combined with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.
2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)
We can see that the Oxidation state of Mg changes from 0 in free state to +2 in its oxide. Hence we can say that Mg has been oxidized. SImilarly the Oxidation state of O changes from 0 to -2, getting reduced in the process. Since both oxidation and reduction occurs simultaneously, this is an example of Redox reaction.
Those reactions, in which oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously, are called redox reactions. In these reactions one substance is oxidised and another substance gets reduced.
When a magnesium ribbon burns to form a white ash, magnesium metal is oxidised in this reaction because it combined with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.
2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)
We can see that the Oxidation state of Mg changes from 0 in free state to +2 in its oxide. Hence we can say that Mg has been oxidized. SImilarly the Oxidation state of O changes from 0 to -2, getting reduced in the process. Since both oxidation and reduction occurs simultaneously, this is an example of Redox reaction.
