CHE 1000-e LEARNING

RECAP ON BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS

LECTURERS: DR. J NYIRENDA

MRS M. XAVIER
2019 ACADEMIC YEAR
 Overview of Redox Reactions

Oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the

gain of electrons. These processes occur simultaneously.
Oxidation Number (ON) is defined as the imaginary charge
a species will acquire when an electron or electrons are
added to it or subtracted from it.
Oxidation results in an increase in O.N. while reduction
results in a decrease in O.N.

The oxidizing agent takes electrons from the substance

being oxidized. The oxidizing agent is therefore reduced.
The reducing agent takes electrons from the substance
being oxidized. The reducing agent is therefore oxidized.
JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020
 Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers
Compound Oxidation Number = ON Exception

1, Pure elements =0
2. Monoatomic ion ON= charge (z) on the ion (e.g.
Cl- ; ON= -1, Cu2+; ON= +2)
3. Polyatomic ion Sum of ON = ±z e.g. 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆42−
ONS + 4xONO= -2
4. F in compounds -1
5. H in compounds +1 H- = -1 (metal
hydrides
6. O in compounds -2 Peroxides
(H2O2 = -1)
7. Neutral molecules Sum of ON= 0
8. Diatomics, =0
Cl2,O2,N2, etc.
9. Group I element +1
10 Group II element +2
11. C in compounds -4 to +4
JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020
 Steps for Balancing Redox reactions
by Ion-Electron Method
Case 1=(Acidic Media)

• Step 1: Divide reaction into half reactions, and assign the oxidation
numbers
• Step 2: Balance atoms other than H and O
• Step 3: Balance O by adding H2O on the side deficient with O
• Step 4: Balance H by adding H+ on the side deficient with H
• Step 5: Balance net charge
• Step 6: Balance electron gain = electron loss, and add the two half-
reactions
• Step 7: Cancel anything that is common on both sides of the
equation

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Case 2=( Basic Media)

• (Additional steps)
• Step 8: Add on both sides of the equation the same number of
OH- to eliminate H+ in step 7
• Step 9: Combine OH- and H+ to form water
• Step10: Cancel any water that you can.

• Example: See examples in this topic

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

 Half-Reaction Method for
Balancing Redox Reactions

The half-reaction method or ion pair electron 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.

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

 Steps in the Half-Reaction Method Summary
• Divide the skeleton reaction into two half-reactions, each
of which contains the oxidized and reduced forms of one
of the species.
• Balance the atoms and charges in each half-reaction.
• First balance atoms other than O and H, then O, then H.
• Charge is balanced by adding electrons (e-) to the left side in
the reduction half-reaction and to the right side in the oxidation
half-reaction.
• If necessary, multiply one or both half-reactions by an
integer so that
• number of e- gained in reduction = number of e- lost in oxidation
• Add the balanced half-reactions, and include states of
matter.

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

 Balancing Redox Reactions in Acidic Solution
Example: balance the following redox reaction in acid media
Cr2O72-(aq) + I-(aq) → Cr3+(aq) + I2(s)
Step 1: Divide the reaction into half-reactions and assign ON.
Cr2O72- → Cr3+
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 𝑂𝑂72− 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠, 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑥𝑥
2𝑥𝑥 + 7 −2 = −2. 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
2𝑥𝑥 − 14 = −2 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 2𝑥𝑥 = 12 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 = 6

So oxidation number for chromium = 6 on the left hand side while on

the right hand side its +3 since it’s a monoatomic ion.
ON=+6 -2 +3
Cr2O72- → Cr3+
Solving for the other half reaction which is straight forward we have
ON=- 1 0
I- → I2
JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020
Balancing Redox Reactions in Acidic Solution
ON=+6 -2 +3
Cr2O72- → Cr3+ ON of Cr has reduced from 6 to 3 hence it’s a
REDUCTION half reaction

ON=- 1 0 ON of I has increased from -1 to 0 hence it’s

I- → I2 an OXIDATION half reaction

Steps 2-5: Balance the atoms and charges in each half-reaction.

For the Cr2O72-/Cr3+ half-reaction:
Balance atoms other than O and H:
Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+
Balance O atoms by adding H2O molecules:

Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Balance H atoms by adding H+ ions:
14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

Balance charges by adding electrons:

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
Remember, this is the reduction half-reaction. Cr2O72- is reduced, and is
the oxidizing agent. The O.N. of Cr decreases from +6 to +3.

For the I-/I2 half-reaction:

Balance atoms other than O and H:
2I- → I2
There are no O or H atoms, so we balance charges by adding electrons:
2I- → I2 + 2e-
Remember, this is the oxidation half-reaction. I- is oxidized, and is the
reducing agent. The O.N. of I increases from -1 to 0.
JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020
Step 6: 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.
The reduction half-reaction shows that 6e- are gained; the oxidation
half-reaction shows only 2e- being lost and must be multiplied by 3:
3(2I- → I2 + 2e-)
6I- → 3I2 + 6e-

Step 7: Add the half-reactions, canceling substances that appear on

both sides, and include states of matter. Electrons must always cancel.
6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
6I- → 3I2 + 6e-
6I-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + Cr2O72-(aq) → 3I2(s) + 7H2O(l) + 2Cr3+(aq)

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

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 a H2O molecule.

Excess H2O molecules are canceled in the final step,

when we cancel electrons and other common species.

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Example 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 for the reaction
between NaMnO4 and Na2C2O4 in basic solution:
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 7 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-

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Steps 2-5: 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]

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Practice on assigning oxidation numbers or states

We will use the same example of oxalate and permanganate

MnO4- → MnO2 C2O42- → CO32-

𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 = 𝑥𝑥 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 𝐶𝐶 = 𝑦𝑦
𝑥𝑥 + 4 −2 = −1 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 + 2 −2 = 0 2𝑦𝑦 + 4 −2 = −2 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦 + 3 −2 = −2
𝑥𝑥 = +7 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 = +4 𝑦𝑦 = +3 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦 = +4

ON= +7 -2 +4 -2 ON= +3 -2 +4 -2
MnO4- → MnO2 C2O42- → CO32-

Recall what an increase in ON signifies and a decrease in the same

signifies. This is going to help you understand which reaction is
undergoing oxidation or reduction

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Step 6: 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 7: 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+

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020

Steps 8 and 9, basic media. 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

Step 10
Including states of matter gives the final balanced equation:
2MnO4-(aq) + 3C2O42-(aq) + 4OH-(aq) → 2MnO2(s) + 6CO32-(aq) + 2H2O(l)

JN E-LEARNING MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 2020