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Chemistry VCE

5 Redox Reaction Practice Questions for Chemistry Study

Master Chemistry with these 5 essential redox reaction practice questions!

Written by:
Matrix Education
matrix education Periodic table under colourful beakers containing red and blue liquids

Redox chemistry is one of the harder topics in VCE Chemistry and HSC Chemistry, but mastering it is key to doing well in your exams. Incorporating Chemistry redox reaction practice is a must if you want to confidently solve a wide range of redox questions. You need to do more than memorise—you need to understand how to apply the core concepts of oxidation and reduction to real-world examples, including some you’ve never seen before.

To help you master this topic, we’ve created 5 important redox questions you need to practice to succeed in VCE Chemistry and HSC Chemistry. Let’s get started and get you ready to ace your exams!

Before you download all 5 Chemistry redox reaction practice questions, check out the two sample questions below. It includes expert tips from the Matrix Chemistry team on how to answer redox questions properly. 

This Chemistry study guide covers:

Download your free Chemistry Redox Reactions Practice Worksheet

Sharpen your skills with challenging redox problems and step-by-step explanations!

Download now

Advice for studying redox reaction exam questions

Before diving into sample questions from our free redox practice worksheet, try these strategies to improve your Chemistry study.

  1. Master the rules

    •   Understand how to assign oxidation numbers and use them to track electron movement in reactions.
  2. Break down complex systems
    •   For multi-step redox reactions, focus on isolating each step to see how electrons are transferred. This is especially helpful for electrochemical cells and titrations.
  3. Practise reverse thinking
    •   Work backward from balanced redox reactions to identify unbalanced components. This helps you recognise patterns and relationships more easily.
  4. Link redox to energy changes
    •   Explore how redox reactions relate to energy transfer, such as in batteries or combustion. Understanding this connection makes it easier to predict reaction outcomes.
  5. Teach someone else
    •   Explain redox concepts to a friend, family member, or even a study group. Teaching forces you to simplify and clarify your understanding, often revealing gaps in your knowledge.
  6. Use real-world examples
    •  Look into practical uses of redox reactions, like rust prevention, water treatment, or fuel cells. This makes learning more engaging and relatable.
  7. Try past exams
    •  Review redox questions from past papers to identify common types and understand how they’re structured. Pay attention to the detail expected in answers.

matrix education A student pouring green liquid into a flask containing red liquid in a chemistry lab, symbolising redox reaction practice.

Chemistry Redox reaction practice questions (+ tips!)

Question 1

Consider the following redox reaction:

S2O32−(aq)   +   4Br2(aq)   +   5H2O(l)   ⟶   2SO42−(aq)   +   8Br−(aq)   +   10H+(aq)

  1. What element is oxidised and what element is reduced?      2
  2. Identify the oxidising and reducing agents and their conjugates.      2
  3. Write the oxidation and reduction half-equations.     2

Tips: 

  • To determine which substance is oxidised or reduced, calculate the oxidation states of each element in the reactants and products.
  • Always remember an oxidising agent causes ANOTHER substance to oxidise, so itself is reduced.
  • Consider whether the redox reaction is under neutral, acidic or basic conditions to determine the method to follow to derive the half equations.

 

Question 2

Glucose is a potential source of fuel for fuel cells. The reaction for the anodic half-cell is

C6H12O6(aq) + 6H2O(l) ⟶ 6CO2(g) + 24H+(aq) + 24e−                 E° = −0.01 V

(a) Write the reduction equation that takes place at the cathodic half-cell.     1
(b) Calculate the standard potential of this fuel cell under standard conditions.     1

Tips:

  • Remember in a fuel cell the overall equation is the same as the combustion of the fuel.
  • For redox calculations, consider the relationship between moles of electrons and quantity of charge from the formula provided in the Data Book. Rearrange the formula as necessary. This will allow you to consider what other variables you need to determine from the information provided in the question.
  • A potential difference of one volt (1 V) is equivalent to 1 joule per coulomb of charge.

matrix education Two students studying redox reaction practice questions together, discussing a book while holding pencils.

Want the answers + more challenging redox questions?

Our free worksheet includes:

  • Step-by-step redox reaction questions with solutions and detailed explanations.
  • Tips for mastering tricky concepts like oxidation states and agents.
  • Real-world applications like fuel cells and battery calculations.
  • Practice balancing equations under acidic and basic conditions.

Grab your free redox reactions practice worksheet

Fill out the form below and we’ll send the redox reactions practice worksheet straight to your inbox.

Download your free Chemistry Redox Reactions Practice Worksheet

Sharpen your skills with challenging redox problems and step-by-step explanations!

Download now

Written by Matrix Education

Matrix is Sydney's No.1 High School Tuition provider. Come read our blog regularly for study hacks, subject breakdowns, and all the other academic insights you need.

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