Balancing Redox Reactions
Balancing Redox Reactions
Balancing Redox Reactions
In oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions – is the net movement of electrons from one reactant to the
other. This movement of electrons occurs from the reactant (or atom in the reactant) with less
attraction for electrons to the reactant (or atom) with more attraction for electrons.
Illustration:
Mg( s) + O2( g) → MgO( s )
12 Mg : 1s 2 2s 2 2 p6 3s 2 so the valence e
−
is 2. Then Mg will give up the 2e
−
to become stable
10 Ne
−
to reach the configuration of , which is a stable configuration. Because Mg lost e it is
oxidized, and therefore O is the oxidizing agent.
2 2 4
8O : 1s 2 s 2 p − −
so the valence e is 6. Then O will accept the 2e from Mg in order for O to
10 Ne
−
become stable and will also reach the configuration of . Because O gained e then O is
reduced, and therefore Mg is a reducing agent.
(1)
H2O (water)
(2)
S O2 (sulfur dioxide)
(3)
H N O3 (nitric acid)
(4)
C12 H 22 O11 (cane sugar or sucrose)
(5) H P O2−
4 (hydrogen phosphate ion)
1-
(6) H 2 PO 4 (dihydrogen phosphate ion)
CaO( s) + CO 2 ( g) → CaCO 3( s )
(1)
2+ 2− 4+ 2− 2+ 4+ 2−
Ca O + C O 2 → Ca C O 3 therefore this reaction is not redox because there are no
changes in the oxidation numbers of the elements.
KNO 3( s) ⃗Δ K 2 O( s) + N 2( g) + O2( g )
(2)
1+ 5+ 2− 1+ 2− 0 0
K N O 3 ⃗Δ K 2 O + N 2 + O 2
0
1+ 5+ 2− 1+ 5+ 2− 1+ 2− 0
11 11 55
(6 K N O3 + 5 K N O3 ⃗
Δ K2 O + N + O2 ) 4
2 2 2 4
Lost 2e/atom x 3 atoms = 6ex 5= 30
Gain 5e/atom x 1 atom = 5e x6 = 30
( 44 K N O3 ⃗Δ 22 K 2 O + 22 N 2 + 55 O2 ) ÷ 11
But the coefficient of the equation is divisible by 11:
4 K N O3 ⃗Δ 2 K 2 O + 2 N 2 + 5 O2
(3)
NaHSO4 (aq ) + NaOH ( aq) → Na2 SO4 (aq ) + H 2 O(l)
3
1+ 1+ 1+ 2− 1+ 1+ 1+ 2−
2− 2−
Na H ( SO 4 ) + Na O H (aq ) → Na2 ( SO 4 ) + H2 O
The reaction is not redox because the elements involved did not change its oxidation no.
Balance the following redox reactions and identify the reducing and oxidizing agents: