What are some good and easy experiments for oxidation/reduction reactions?

Question

Please suggest experiments that can be done quickly and with simple household items and chemistry lab equipment.

Answer 1

Redox (shorthand for oxidation/reduction reaction) describes all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation number (oxidation state) changed.

This can be a simple redox process, such as the oxidation of carbon to yield carbon dioxide, it could be the reduction of carbon by hydrogen to yield methane (CH4), or a complex process such as the oxidation of sugar in the human body, through a series of very complex electron transfer processes.

The term redox comes from the two concepts of reduction and oxidation. It can be explained in simple terms:

Oxidation describes the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion
Reduction describes the gain of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion
However, these descriptions (though sufficient for many purposes) are not truly correct. Oxidation and reduction properly refer to a change in oxidation number — the actual transfer of electrons may never occur. Thus, oxidation is better defined as an increase in oxidation number, and reduction as a decrease in oxidation number. In practice, the transfer of electrons will always cause a change in oxidation number, but there are many reactions which are classed as "redox" even though no electron transfer occurs (such as those involving covalent bonds.
One of the simplest types of redox reactions is the combination reaction. In these reactions, which involve the "combining" of two elements to form a chemical compound, one element is always oxidized, while the other is always reduced as illustrated below.

Example - Formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen gas.
Note: Hydrogen is oxidized and oxygen is reduced.

Example - Formation of sulfur trioxide from oxygen and sulfur.
Note: Sulfur is oxidized; oxygen is reduced.

Answer 2

heyy ...... one of the simplest oxidation reduction reaction is
Zn +CuSo4= ZnSo4 + Cu............. now since u hv mebtioned chem lab equipment can be used..... then jus take a beaker add copper sulphate soln and some zinc pieces.... the reaction will occur immediately.... u can also try aluminium and iron pieces

Answer 3

you can leave a piece of bare iron lying around

Answer 4

Not sure if this is "simple"

but here you go:

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/electro/electro.htm