Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / General Chemistry /Difference Between Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method

Difference Between Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method

March 3, 2018Posted byMadhu

Key Difference – OxidationNumber Method vs Half Reaction Method

Oxidation numbermethod and half-reaction method are two methods used to balance a chemical equation of a redox reaction. A redox reaction is a chemical reaction that is composed of two parallel chemical reactions;oxidation reaction and reduction reaction. These are known as half reactions of a redox reaction. Therefore, a redox reaction takes place in a reaction mixture where a substance undergoesoxidationand another substance (or the same substance) undergoesreduction.Oxidations and reductions change the oxidation number or the oxidation state of a chemical element. Either this change in oxidation number or the half-reactions occur in redox reaction can be used to balance the overall chemical equation of the redox reaction. Thekey differencebetween oxidation number method and half-reaction method is thatoxidation number method uses the change on oxidation number of chemical species in the reaction mixture whereas half-reaction method uses the method of balancing the two parallel half reactions followed by their addition with each other.

CONTENTS

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Oxidation Number Method
3.What is Half Reaction Method
4.Side by Side Comparison – Oxidation Number Method vs Half Reaction Method in Tabular Form
5.Summary

What is Oxidation Number Method?

Oxidation number method is a method of balancing a chemical equation of a redox reaction using the oxidation numbers of chemical species in the reaction mixture. The oxidation number of a chemical element is the degree of oxidation of thatelement. The oxidation number is sometimes called oxidation state, and it can be either a positive value, a negative value or it can be zero. When the oxidation number of an atom is increased, we call that atom has oxidized; in contrast, when the oxidation number has decreased, that atom is reduced.

Ex: The reaction between zinc (Zn) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) gives Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2). This reaction is a redox reaction in which zinc undergo oxidation and hydrogen atom undergo reduction where the oxidation number of chlorine is not changed. Zn atom has oxidized to Zn2+whereas H+ion has reduced to H2.

Zn + HCl→ZnCl2+ H2

Difference Between Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method

Figure 01: Zinc Reaction with HCl

Oxidation number method can be used to balance the above equation. First, the oxidation numbers of all the atoms should be indicated.

Zn = 0

H in HCl = +1

Znin ZnCl2= +2

H in H2= 0

Then should determine the changes that have taken place in these oxidation numbers. Zn has oxidized to Zn2+while H+has been reduced to H2. After recognizing these changes, increase or decrease of oxidation number per atom should be indicated. Let us call this factor as “ON factor” (the increase or decrease per atom). After determining the ON factor, oxidizing atom should be multiplied by the ON factor of reducing atom and vice versa.

ON factor of Zn =2

ON factor of H = 1

When multiplied, {Zn x 1} + {HCl x 2} → {ZnCl2x 1} + {H2}

This gives the balanced redox reaction: Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2+ H2

What is Half Reaction Method?

半反应方法是一个重新平衡的一种方法dox reaction using the two parallel half reactions; oxidation half-reaction and reduction half-reaction. In redox reactions, one reactant acts as the oxidizing agent that oxidizes the other reactant, while reducing itself.

例:对锌(锌)和hydroch之间的反应loric acid (HCl), zinc act as the reducing agent whereas hydrogen in HCl is the oxidizing agent. Then the balanced two half-reactions can be written as:

Oxidation: Zn → Zn+2+ 2e

Reduction: 2HCl+ 2e→ H2+ 2Cl–

Then we can simply add the half-reactions to get the balanced redox reactions. But before adding them should check whether the number of electrons on both sides is equal (only then the electrons in both sides can be canceled to get the net equation). If the electrons are not equal, then the whole equation (of one half-reaction) should be multiplied by a suitable value until it equals the number of electrons in the other half reaction.

The balanced redox reaction: Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2+ H2

What is the Difference Between Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method?

Oxidation Number Method vs Half Reaction Method

Oxidation number method is a method of balancing a chemical equation of a redox reaction using the oxidation numbers of chemical species in the reaction mixture. 半反应方法是一个重新平衡的一种方法dox reaction using the two parallel half reactions; oxidation half reaction and reduction half reaction
Method
The oxidation number method uses the changes in oxidation number of each atom in reactants and products. The half reaction method uses oxidation and reduction reactions of the redox reaction.

Summary – OxidationNumber Method vs Half Reaction Method

A redox reaction is a common type of reaction in which one reactant act as an oxidizing agent whereas another reactant acts a reducing agent. There are two major ways to balance a redox reaction; oxidation number method and half reaction method. The difference between oxidation number method and half-reaction method is that oxidation number method uses the change on oxidation number of chemical species in the reaction mixture whereas half-reaction method uses the method of balancing the two parallel half reactions followed by their addition with each other.

Reference:

1.“Balancing Redox Reactions.” Balancing Redox Reactions, Ion Electron Method, Oxidation Number Method |[email protected]Available here
2.“Oxidation numbers method of balancing redox reaction equations.” Chemical calculator software for pH calculation, concentration conversion solution preparation and chemical equation balancing.Available here

Image Courtesy:

1.’Zn reaction with HCl’By Chemicalinterest – Own work, (Public Domain) viaCommons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Liquid State and Gaseous StateDifference Between Liquid State and Gaseous State Difference Between Boiling Point and Melting PointDifference Between Boiling Point and Melting Point Difference Between Molecular Orbital and Atomic OrbitalDifference Between Molecular Orbital and Atomic Orbital Difference Between Amorphous and Crystalline PolymersDifference Between Amorphous and Crystalline Polymers Difference Between Mendeleev and Moseley Periodic TableDifference Between Mendeleev and Moseley Periodic Table

Filed Under:General ChemistryTagged With:Compare Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method,Half Reaction Method,Half Reaction Method Definition,Half Reaction Method Manner,Half Reaction Method Use,Oxidation Number Method,Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method Differences,Oxidation Number Method and Half Reaction Method Similarities,Oxidation Number Method Definition,Oxidation Number Method Manner,Oxidation Number Method Use,Oxidation Number Method vs Half Reaction Method

About the Author:Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked*

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Microwave and Oven

Difference Between Microwave and Oven

Difference Between Valence Shell and Penultimate Shell

Difference Between Valence Shell and Penultimate Shell

Difference Between Sodium Stearate and Sodium Oleate

Difference Between Sodium Stearate and Sodium Oleate

Difference Between 2D and 3D Cell Culture

Difference Between 2D and 3D Cell Culture

What is the Difference Between Condo and Duplex

What is the Difference Between Condo and Duplex

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Induction Cooker and Normal Cooker
  • What is the Difference Between Vitiligo and Psoriasis
  • What is the Difference Between Cancellous and Cortical Bone
  • What is the Difference Between Electric and Induction Cooktop
  • What is the Difference Between Prevention and Cure
  • What is the Difference Between DSM IV and DSM V Autism
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018Difference Between. All rights reserved.Terms of Useand Privacy Policy:Legal.