what can i write as an introduction to this reaction??

Question

Fe + CuSO4 --> FeSO4 + Cu, ive got to talk about redox and the Fe ions... PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

"In this reaction, iron is oxidized to +2 to form ferrous sulfate, and the copper in copper sulfate is reduced to elemental copper."

Keep your sentence short, the more you add the more likely you might screw things up.

When you take electrons away from an element you "oxidize" it.

When you give electrons to an element, you "reduce" it.

Answer 2

Iron, Fe, loses 2 electrons to form ferrous ions, Fe++. Cupric ions, Cu++, gain 2 electrons to form copper metal, Cu. Iron increases in oxidation number from 0 to +2 and so gets oxidized. Copper decreases in oxidation number from +2 to 0 and so gets reduced. SO4= is unaffected.