What is OVR in modern chemistry?

Let's talk about what is OVR in inorganic and organic synthesis.

Process Definition

Oxidation-reduction reactions are understood to mean such processes, as a result of which the oxidation state 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 certain ion releases electrons, while lowering its initial oxidation state. This process is typical for metals.

What is Recovery?

By the process of reduction is meant a chemical transformation, as a result of which the oxidation state of an ion or a simple substance will decrease, with the addition of electrons. This reaction is characteristic for non-metals and acid residues.

Characteristics of the reducing agent

Considering the question of what an OVR is, one can not ignore such a notion 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 oxidant

Arguing over what is OVR, it is also important to mention the term "oxidizer". By this, it is customary to mean such ions or neutral atoms, which in the course of chemical interaction will take negative electrons from other atoms or neutral particles. At the same time, its initial oxidation state will decrease.

Types of OBR

Arguing over what is OVR, it is necessary to note about those varieties of these processes, which are most often considered in inorganic and organic synthesis.

Intermolecular interactions presuppose processes in which the atoms of both the reducing agent and the oxidizer are located in different starting materials that enter into interaction. An example of this type of transformation is the interaction between manganese oxide (4) and hydrochloric acid, which results in gaseous chlorine, divalent manganese chloride, and water.

In the chemical process under consideration, chlorine anions appear as a reducing agent, oxidizing as the interaction proceeds. The manganese cation (with oxidation state +4) exhibits oxidative ability in the reaction, taking two electrons, is restored.

Intramolecular interaction is a chemical transformation, in which both the atoms of the reducing agent and the oxidant atoms are initially a single source substance, and after the completion of the transformation they are 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. Oxidizing properties will be characteristic for the chlorate anion, which, taking five electrons in the reaction, will be reduced to 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 transfer of electrons between ions, leading to the formation of two reaction products.

Also, to this type of chemical transformation, occurring with a change in the oxidation states of elements originally found in one formula, is the process of decomposition of ammonium nitrite. Nitrogen, standing in the ammonium cation, having a degree of oxidation -3, during the process gives up six electrons and is oxidized to molecular nitrogen. And that nitrogen, which is part of the nitrite, takes six electrons, while it is a reducing agent, and during the reaction it is oxidized.

What is OVR in chemistry? The definition considered above shows that these are transformations associated with changes in several elements of the oxidation states.

Self-oxidation and reduction (disproportion) presupposes such processes, in the course of which, as a reducing agent and an oxidizer, one initial atom appears that will increase, and simultaneously reduce its oxidation state after completion of the interaction. Arguing over what is OVR in chemistry, examples of such transformations can be found even in the course of chemistry of secondary school. The decomposition of potassium sulfite upon heating leads to the formation of two salts of this metal: sulphide and sulfate. Sulfur with an oxidation state of +4 shows both reducing and oxidizing properties, increasing and decreasing the oxidation state.

To understand what OVI means in chemistry, let's name another type of such chemical transformations. Counterproportion involves such processes, as a result of which the atoms of the reducing agent and oxidizer are in the composition of different initial components, but on the right side they form one reaction product. For example, in the interaction of sulfur oxide (4) with hydrogen sulphide, sulfur and water will form. A sulfur ion with an oxidation state of +4 will take four electrons, and a sulfur ion with an exponent -2 is deprived of two electrons. As a result, they both turn into a simple substance, in which the degree of oxidation is zero.

Conclusion

Considering the question of what is OVR in chemistry, we note that these are the numerous transformations through which living organisms function, various natural processes and phenomena occur. In order to arrange the coefficients in such equations, it is necessary to compile an electronic balance.