AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry: Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons
Chemical changes · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.4.1.4. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons", and every card links back to the page it came from. Higher tier only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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In terms of electrons, what is oxidation?
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The loss of electrons.
In terms of electrons, what is reduction?
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The gain of electrons.
Oxidation is the ? of electrons.
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loss
Reduction is the ? of electrons.
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gain
What mnemonic helps remember oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons?
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OIL RIG — Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain (of electrons).
A metal atom becomes a positive ion (e.g. Mg → Mg²⁺ + 2e⁻). Is it oxidised or reduced?
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Oxidised — it loses electrons.
A metal ion gains electrons to form an atom (e.g. Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu). Is it oxidised or reduced?
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Reduced — it gains electrons.
What is the ionic equation for magnesium displacing copper from copper(II) sulfate solution?
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Mg + Cu²⁺ → Mg²⁺ + Cu (the spectator sulfate ions are omitted).
In the reaction Zn + Cu²⁺ → Zn²⁺ + Cu, which species is oxidised?
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Zinc (Zn) — it loses two electrons to form Zn²⁺.
In the reaction Zn + Cu²⁺ → Zn²⁺ + Cu, which species is reduced?
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Copper ions (Cu²⁺) — they gain two electrons to form Cu atoms.
Which ions are left out when writing an ionic equation for a displacement reaction?
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Spectator ions — ions that are unchanged on both sides of the equation (e.g. SO₄²⁻).
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