How do redox reactions differ from other types of reactions?
Redox (or oxidation- reduction) reactions involve the transfer of electrons. Oxidation involves losing an electron (the charge will increase by one) and reduction involves gaining an electron (the charge decreases by one). People remember this with the mnemonic OIL RIG (oxidation is losing, reduction is gaining). Here’s an example of iron, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, yielding a different oxidation state of iron and water: 2Fe^2+ + H2O2 + 2H^+ → 2Fe^3+ + 2H2O (sorry, this font won’t do superscripts or subscripts) You should be able to figure out, based on the oxidation states (charges), which reactants were oxidized and which were reduced.
