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Electro

The document describes the half-reaction method for balancing redox reactions in basic solutions. It involves dividing the overall reaction into oxidation and reduction half-reactions. These are balanced separately for elements other than hydrogen and oxygen first, then water molecules are added to balance oxygen, followed by hydrogen ions to balance hydrogen. The half-reactions are then multiplied as needed and combined to cancel common species, leaving the fully balanced redox reaction in basic solution. A sample problem demonstrates applying this method to balance the reaction between permanganate and oxalate ions.

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Kent Dosejo
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132 views

Electro

The document describes the half-reaction method for balancing redox reactions in basic solutions. It involves dividing the overall reaction into oxidation and reduction half-reactions. These are balanced separately for elements other than hydrogen and oxygen first, then water molecules are added to balance oxygen, followed by hydrogen ions to balance hydrogen. The half-reactions are then multiplied as needed and combined to cancel common species, leaving the fully balanced redox reaction in basic solution. A sample problem demonstrates applying this method to balance the reaction between permanganate and oxalate ions.

Uploaded by

Kent Dosejo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

Half-Reaction Method for

Balancing Redox Reactions


The half-reaction method divides a redox reaction into
its oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
- This reflects their physical separation in electrochemical cells.

The half-reaction method is easier to apply to reactions in


acidic or basic solutions.

21-1
Balancing Redox Reactions in Basic Solution
An acidic solution contains H+ ions and H2O. We use H+
ions to balance H atoms.
A basic solution contains OH- ions and H2O. To balance
H atoms, we proceed as if in acidic solution, and then
add one OH- ion to both sides of the equation.

For every OH- ion and H+ ion that appear on the same
side of the equation we form an H2O molecule.

Excess H2O molecules are canceled in the final step,


when we cancel electrons and other common species.

21-6
Sample Problem 1 Balancing a Redox Reaction in Basic
Solution

PROBLEM: Permanganate ion reacts in basic solution with oxalate


ion to form carbonate ion and solid manganese dioxide.
Balance the skeleton ionic equation.

MnO4-(aq) + C2O42-(aq) → MnO2(s) + CO32-(aq) [basic solution]


PLAN: We follow the numbered steps as described in the text, and
proceed through step 4 as if this reaction occurs in acidic
solution. Then we add the appropriate number of OH- ions
and cancel excess H2O molecules.
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Divide the reaction into half-reactions.
MnO4- → MnO2 C2O42- → CO32-

21-7
Sample Problem 1
Step 2: Balance the atoms and charges in each half-reaction.
Balance atoms other than O and H:
MnO4- → MnO2 C2O42- → 2CO32-

Balance O atoms by adding H2O molecules:


MnO4- → MnO2 + 2H2O 2H2O + C2O42- → 2CO32-

Balance H atoms by adding H+ ions:


4H+ + MnO4- → MnO2 + 2H2O 2H2O + C2O42- → 2CO32- + 4H+

Balance charges by adding electrons:


3e- + 4H+ + MnO4- → MnO2 + 2H2O 2H2O + C2O42- → 2CO32- + 4H+ + 2e-
[reduction] [oxidation]

21-8
3e- + 4H+ + MnO4- → MnO2 + 2H2O
Sample Problem 1 2H2O + C2O42- → 2CO32- + 4H+ + 2e-

Step 3: Multiply each half-reaction, if necessary, by an integer so that


the number of e- lost in the oxidation equals the number of e- gained
in the reduction.
x2 6e- + 8H+ + 2MnO4- → 2MnO2 + 4H2O
x3 6H2O + 3C2O42- → 6CO32- + 12H+ + 6e-

Step 4: Add the half-reactions, canceling substances that appear on


both sides.
6e- + 8H+ + 2MnO4- → 2MnO2 + 4H2O
2 6H2O + 3C2O42- → 6CO32- +412H+ + 6e-
2MnO4- + 2H2O + 3C2O42- → 2MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+

21-9
2MnO4- + 2H2O + 3C2O42- → 2MnO2 + 6CO32- + 4H+
Sample Problem 1

Basic. Add OH- to both sides of the equation to neutralize H+, and
cancel H2O.

2MnO4- + 2H2O + 3C2O42- + 4OH- → 2MnO2 + 6CO32- + [4H+ + 4OH-]


2MnO4- + 2H2O + 3C2O42- + 4OH- → 2MnO2 + 6CO32- + 2 4H2O

Including states of matter gives the final balanced equation:

2MnO4-(aq) + 3C2O42-(aq) + 4OH-(aq) → 2MnO2(s) + 6CO32-(aq) + 2H2O(l)

21-10
Worksheet 8 (50 points)

Fe(OH)2 (s) + Pb(OH)3- (aq) → Fe(OH)3 (s) + Pb(s)

21-11
21-12
Thank you

21-21

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