http://www.ck12.org Chapter 22. Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
CHAPTER
(^22) Oxidation-Reduction
Reactions
Chapter Outline
22.1 THENATURE OFOXIDATION ANDREDUCTION
22.2 OXIDATIONNUMBERS
22.3 BALANCINGREDOXREACTIONS
22.4 REFERENCES
The sewer valves in the picture above are made of iron, a very common and useful metal. However, these iron
valves have been exposed to air and water for a long time and have begun to undergo a chemical reaction commonly
known as rusting. You know that when an iron tool or other object turns to rust, it eventually stops functioning and
becomes useless. What is going on in the rusting process? Can anything be done to keep it from happening? Rusting
is just one specific example of a chemical process called corrosion. Corrosion happens to many metals besides
iron, such as copper, silver, and zinc. The chemical reaction responsible for corrosion is one in which electrons are
transferred from one substance to another. When metallic iron forms rust (iron(III) oxide), its identity is changed
due to a transfer of electrons. In this chapter, you will learn about oxidation and reduction, the general terms given
to processes in which electrons are lost or gained by the reacting substances.
Image co pyright gyn 9037 , 2014 .www.shutterstock.com.U sed under license f rom Shutterstock.com.