How do acid-base reactions differ from oxidation-reduction (or redox) reactions?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 20, 2016

Formally, acid-base reactions involve proton transfer........

Explanation:

........whereas redox reactions involve a formal change in oxidation state.

For Bronsted acids, we could simply write:

#HX + MOH rarr MX + H_2O#;

i.e. #"Acid + base " rarr " salt and water"#

Redox reactions involve a change in oxidation state, and FORMAL transfer of electrons. For hydrocarbon combustion:

#CH_4 + 2O_2rarr CO_2+2H_2O#

#C^(-IV)# has been oxidized to #C^(+IV)#; i.e. carbon has formally lost 8 electrons. Zerovalent oxygen has been reduced to #O^(-II)#; i.e. the oxygen atoms on the products have formally gained 8 electrons, thereby they are reduced.

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