Is Al—> Al3 + 3e- oxidation or reduction
The reaction Al → Al3+ + 3e- is oxidation.
The reaction Al → Al3+ + 3e- is an oxidation reaction. It involves the loss of electrons (forming Al3+) by the aluminum atom, which indicates that it is undergoing oxidation. In general, oxidation refers to an increase in an atom's oxidation state or the loss of electrons.
To determine whether the reaction Al -> Al3+ + 3e- is an oxidation or reduction, you can apply the following steps:
1. Identify the species undergoing a change in oxidation state: In this case, aluminum (Al) transforms into aluminum ions (Al3+).
2. Determine the initial and final oxidation states of the species involved:
- Aluminum (Al) typically has an oxidation state of 0 since it is in its elemental form.
- Aluminum ions (Al3+) have an oxidation state of +3.
3. Compare the initial and final oxidation states:
- Aluminum (Al) transforms from an oxidation state of 0 to +3 in Al3+ ions.
- An increase in oxidation state indicates oxidation, while a decrease indicates reduction.
Based on the comparison, we observe that the oxidation state of aluminum increases from 0 to +3, indicating an increase in its positive charge. Thus, the reaction Al -> Al3+ + 3e- is an oxidation reaction.