Question

How do acid-base reactions differ from oxidation-reduction (or redox) reactions?

Answer 1

Formally, acid-base reactions involve proton transfer........

Explanation:

........whereas redox reactions involve a formal change in oxidation state.

For Bronsted acids, we could simply write:

`HX + MOH rarr MX + H_2O`;

i.e. `"Acid + base " rarr " salt and water"`

Redox reactions involve a change in oxidation state, and FORMAL transfer of electrons. For hydrocarbon combustion:

`CH_4 + 2O_2rarr CO_2+2H_2O`

`C^(-IV)` has been oxidized to `C^(+IV)`; i.e. carbon has formally lost 8 electrons. Zerovalent oxygen has been reduced to `O^(-II)`; i.e. the oxygen atoms on the products have formally gained 8 electrons, thereby they are reduced.