The balancing of a redox reaction is a stepwise process, and must be done very carefully and meticulously. The steps to completely balancing a redox rxn are as follows:
1. Write the oxidation numbers of all atoms in the rxn.
2. Determine what is being oxidized (loses electrons), and what is being reduced (gains electrons).
3. Show oxidizing agent being reduced (in half rxn).
4. Show reducing agent being oxidized (also in half rxn).
5. Make sure atoms other than H and 0 are balanced on both sides of the half rxns. (If necessary, adjust coefficients).
6. Count up number of O's on left and right sides of each half rxn, and add H2O to the side which is lower in oxygen.
7. Count up number of H's on left and right sides of each half rxn, and add H+ to the side which is lower in hydrogen. (it is important to do step 6 and 7 in that order).
8. Count up the net charge on both sides and add electrons to the side deficient in negative charge.
9. If the rxn is said to be a basic sol'n, replace each H+ by H2O in step 7, and add an equal number of OH- ions to the other side of the half rxn.
10. If the rxn is said to be acidic, let it alone!
11. To balance the eq'n, multiply each half rxn by a number which will make the number of electrons lost equal to the number of electrons gained.
12. Add up the half rxns and cancel anything which is on both sides.
BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
The balancing of a redox reaction is a stepwise process, and must be done very carefully and meticulously. The steps to completely balancing a redox rxn are as follows:
1. Write the oxidation numbers of all atoms in the rxn.
2. Determine what is being oxidized (loses electrons), and what is being reduced (gains electrons).
3. Show oxidizing agent being reduced (in half rxn).
4. Show reducing agent being oxidized (also in half rxn).
5. Make sure atoms other than H and 0 are balanced on both sides of the half rxns. (If necessary, adjust coefficients).
6. Count up number of O's on left and right sides of each half rxn, and add H2O to the side which is lower in oxygen.
7. Count up number of H's on left and right sides of each half rxn, and add H+ to the side which is lower in hydrogen. (it is important to do step 6 and 7 in that order).
8. Count up the net charge on both sides and add electrons to the side deficient in negative charge.
9. If the rxn is said to be a basic sol'n, replace each H+ by H2O in step 7, and add an equal number of OH- ions to the other side of the half rxn.
10. If the rxn is said to be acidic, let it alone!
11. To balance the eq'n, multiply each half rxn by a number which will make the number of electrons lost equal to the number of electrons gained.
12. Add up the half rxns and cancel anything which is on both sides.
