Question

When an oxidation-reduction reaction generates electrical energy spontaneously, the cell is called a(n) ________ cell. when an oxidation-reduction reaction generates electrical energy spontaneously, the cell is called a(n) ________ cell. spontaneous exothermic thermodynamic activated voltaic?

Answer 1

Oxidation is the loss of electrons and corresponds to an increase in oxidation state. Reduction is the gain of electrons and corresponds to a decrease in oxidation state. Balancing redox reactions can be more complicated than balancing other types of reactions because both the mass and charge must be balanced.  The half-reactions are balanced individually and then added together so that the number of electrons generated in the oxidation half reaction is the same as the number of electrons consumed in the reduction half-reaction.