Edexcel IAL Chemistry Topic 8A Checklist
(2025–2026 Exams)
Topic 8: Redox Chemistry and Groups 1, 2 and 7
8A: Redox Chemistry
Know what is meant by the term ‘ oxidation number
’ and understand the rules for assigning oxidation numbers
Be able to calculate the oxidation number
of elements in compounds and ions, including in peroxides and metal hydrides
Be able to indicate the oxidation number
of an element in a compound or an ion, using a Roman numeral
Be able to write formulae given oxidation numbers
Understand oxidation
and reduction
in terms of electron transfer and changes in oxidation number, and the application of these ideas to reactions of s-block and p-block elements
Know that oxidising agents
gain electrons and reducing agents
lose electrons
Understand that a disproportionation reaction
involves an element in a single species being simultaneously oxidised and reduced
Know that oxidation number
is a useful concept in terms of the classification of reactions as redox
and as disproportionation
Understand that metals, in general, form positive ions by loss of electrons with an increase in oxidation number whereas non-metals, in general, form negative ions by gain of electrons with a decrease in oxidation number
Be able to write ionic half-equations
and use them to construct full ionic equations
