redoxpaar

A redox pair, also known as a conjugate redox pair or redox couple, consists of two chemical species that differ from each other by the transfer of one or more electrons. In essence, one species is the oxidized form and the other is the reduced form. The oxidized species has lost electrons, while the reduced species has gained electrons.

For example, the iron(II) ion (Fe^2+) and the iron(III) ion (Fe^3+) form a redox pair. The Fe^3+ ion is the oxidized form, as it has lost one electron compared to Fe^2+. Conversely, Fe^2+ is the reduced form, having gained an electron to become Fe^3+.

Redox pairs are fundamental to understanding redox reactions, which involve the transfer of electrons between chemical entities. These reactions can be represented by half-reactions, where each half-reaction describes either the oxidation (loss of electrons) or the reduction (gain of electrons). A complete redox reaction is the sum of an oxidation half-reaction and a reduction half-reaction.

The concept of a redox pair is often used in electrochemistry. For instance, in an electrochemical cell, the anode is where oxidation occurs, and the cathode is where reduction occurs. The species undergoing oxidation and reduction at these electrodes form redox pairs. The tendency of a redox pair to gain or lose electrons is quantified by its standard electrode potential.