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Subjects · Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry

Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry: Redox & electrochemical series

How often Redox & electrochemical series comes up on the Physics & Chemistry papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 7 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Redox & electrochemical series, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Redox & electrochemical series.

(a)In terms of electrons, oxidation is…
  1. Gain of electrons
  2. Loss of electrons
  3. Sharing of electrons
(b)An oxidising agent is a substance that…
  1. Always contains oxygen atoms
  2. Donates electrons and is itself oxidised
  3. Accepts electrons and is itself reduced
(c)A zinc strip is placed in blue copper(II) sulfate solution. What happens?
  1. Copper is deposited as zinc is oxidised
  2. Nothing: zinc is below copper
  3. Zinc is deposited as copper is oxidised
Show the answers

(a) Loss of electrons

(b) Accepts electrons and is itself reduced

(c) Copper is deposited as zinc is oxidised

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Redox & electrochemical series.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q7(l), Q10
2024Q7(m), Q10
2023Q7(k), Q10
2022Q10
2021Q10
2019Q10
2018Q10
2017Q10
2016Q10

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Redox & electrochemical series questions

Redox & electrochemical series, 2 marks

Which metal does NOT react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

  1. Zinc
  2. Magnesium
  3. Copper
Show the answer

Copper

Metals above hydrogen in the electrochemical series (Mg, Zn) give hydrogen with dilute acid. Copper is below hydrogen, so no reaction takes place.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q9
2023Q7(m)
2022Q7(g), Q7(j)
2021Q9
2019Q7(f), Q9
2018Not asked
2017Q9
2016Q7(j), Q9

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Redox & electrochemical series questions

Redox & electrochemical series, 2 marks

Oxidation is?

  1. Gain of electrons
  2. Gain of protons
  3. Loss of electrons
Show the answer

Loss of electrons

OIL RIG: Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain (of electrons). A reducing agent is itself oxidised.

Redox & electrochemical series, 3 marks

Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu. Which substance is oxidised?

  1. Neither
  2. Zinc
  3. Copper ions
Show the answer

Zinc

Zn loses two electrons to become Zn2+, so it is oxidised. Cu2+ gains those electrons to become copper metal, so it is reduced.

Redox & electrochemical series, 3 marks

Which of these metals is the strongest reducing agent?

  1. Magnesium
  2. Copper
  3. Silver
Show the answer

Magnesium

Magnesium is highest of the three in the electrochemical series, so it loses electrons most easily. Silver is near the bottom and hardly reacts.

Other Physics & Chemistry topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry