Let's talk about what OVR is in inorganic and organic synthesis.
Process definition
By redox reactions is meant such processes as a result of which the degree of oxidation of two or more chemical elements in complex or simple substances will change.
What is oxidation?
By oxidation is meant a chemical reaction in which an atom or a specific ion gives off electrons, while lowering its initial oxidation state. This process is characteristic of metals.
What is recovery
By a reduction process is meant a chemical transformation, as a result of which the oxidation state of an ion or a simple substance will decrease, and electrons will be attached. This reaction is characteristic of non-metals and acid residues.
Reducer Characterization
Considering the question of what the OVR is, one cannot ignore such a concept as a “reductant”.
It means a neutral molecule or a charged ion, which, as a result of chemical interaction, will give an electron to another ion or atom, while increasing its oxidation state.
Determination of oxidizing agent
In discussing what OVR is, it is also important to mention a term such as “oxidizing agent”. It is customary to mean such ions or neutral atoms, which, upon chemical interaction, will receive negative electrons from other atoms or neutral particles. At the same time, its initial oxidation state will decrease.
Types of OVR
Arguing over what OVR is, it is necessary to note those varieties of these processes that are most often considered in inorganic and organic synthesis.
Intermolecular interactions suggest such processes in which the atoms of both the reducing agent and the oxidizing agent are located in different starting materials that enter into the interaction. An example of this type of conversion is the interaction between manganese oxide (4) and a hydrochloric acid solution, which produces gaseous chlorine, divalent manganese chloride, and water.
In the chemical process under consideration, chlorine anions appear as a reducing agent, which oxidize as they interact. The manganese cation (with an oxidation state of +4) exhibits oxidative abilities in the reaction, taking two electrons, is reduced.
Intramolecular interaction is such chemical transformations, during which both the atoms of the reducing agent and the atoms of the oxidizing agent are initially the same starting material, and after the completion of the transformation, they appear in various reaction products.
An example of this type of reaction is the decomposition of potassium chlorate. When heated, this substance will turn into potassium chloride and oxygen. The oxidizing properties will be characteristic of the chlorate anion, which, taking five electrons in the reaction, will be restored, turning into chloride.
In this case, the oxygen anion will exhibit reducing properties, being oxidized to molecular oxygen. So what is OVR in this case? This is the process of electron transfer between ions, leading to the formation of two reaction products.
Also to this type of chemical transformations that occur with a change in the oxidation state of elements that are initially in the same formula is the decomposition of ammonium nitrite. Nitrogen in the ammonium cation, having an oxidation state of -3, gives off six electrons during the process and oxidizes to molecular nitrogen. And that nitrogen, which is part of nitrite, receives six electrons, while it is a reducing agent, and during the reaction it is oxidized.
What is OVR in chemistry? The definition considered by us above indicates that these are transformations associated with changes in several elements of oxidation states.
Self-oxidation and reduction (imbalance) implies processes in which one reducing atom acts as a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent, which will increase and at the same time decrease its oxidation state after the completion of the interaction. Arguing over what OVR is in chemistry, examples of such transformations can be found even in a high school chemistry course. The decomposition of potassium sulfite upon heating leads to the formation of two salts of this metal: sulfide and sulfate. Sulfur with an oxidation state of +4 exhibits both reducing and oxidizing properties, increasing and decreasing the oxidation state.
To understand what OVR means in chemistry, we will call one more type of such chemical transformations. Counter-proportionality involves such processes as a result of which the atoms of the reducing agent and oxidizing agent are part of different starting components, but in the right part they form one reaction product. For example, the interaction of sulfur oxide (4) with hydrogen sulfide will produce sulfur and water. A sulfur ion with an oxidation state of +4 will take four electrons, and a sulfur ion with an index of -2 loses two electrons. As a result, both of them turn into a simple substance, in which the oxidation state is zero.
Conclusion
Considering the question of what OVR is in chemistry, we note that these are numerous transformations due to which living organisms function, various natural processes and phenomena occur. In order to arrange the coefficients in such equations, it is necessary to draw up an electronic balance.