Question #66236

1 Answer
Feb 4, 2018

#"DIRECT REDOX"# reactions occur spontaneously when collide.
#"INDIRECT REDOX"# reactions only take place with ionic components under an electrical field applied between two electrodes.

Explanation:

#"DIRECT REDOX"# reactions occur spontaneously at the moment of direct contact between the involved elements/components.
Ex: the Iron reacts directly in contact with Oxygen, even if this reaction is a slow one.

#4 Fe (s) + 3 O_2 (g) => 2 Fe_2O_3 (s)#

#"INDIRECT REDOX"# reactions only take place with ionic components under an electrical field applied between two electrodes. The reactions take place at the surface of electrodes (mostly a metal or graphite).

There are two kinds of indirect redox reactions:

  1. spontaneous indirect redox reactions, when strong substances react to produce weaker ones. These reaction mostly are exothermic.
  2. forces indirect redox reactions, when weak substances must (are forced to) react to produce strong ones. These reaction mostly are endothermic.