Balancing Redox Equations:

following the electrons

Review: Oxidation and reduction
Oxidation numbers

Review: Oxidation - reduction

Oxidation is loss of electrons
Reduction is gain of electrons
Oxidation is always accompanied by reduction
The total number of electrons is kept constant

Oxidizing agents oxidize and are

themselves reduced
Reducing agents reduce and are
themselves oxidized

Nuggets of redox processes

Where there is oxidation there is always
reduction
Oxidizing agent

Reducing agent

Is itself reduced

Is itself oxidized

Gains electrons

Loses electrons

Causes oxidation

Causes reduction

Oxidation numbers review

Oxidation number is the number of electrons
gained or lost by the element in making a
compound

Metals are more 'cation-like'

Have positive oxidation
numbers

Nonmetals are 'anion-like'

Have negative oxidation
numbers.

Predicting oxidation numbers

Oxidation number of atoms in element is zero in all cases
Oxidation number of element in monatomic ion is equal to
the charge
sum of the oxidation numbers in a compound is zero
sum of oxidation numbers in polyatomic ion is equal to the
charge
F has oxidation number 1
H has oxidn no. +1; except in metal hydrides where it is
1
Oxygen is usually 2. Except:

O is 1 in hydrogen peroxide, and other peroxides

O is 1/2 in superoxides KO2
In OF2 O is +2

Position of element in periodic table

determines oxidation number
G1A is +1
G2A is +2
G3A is +3 (some rare exceptions)
G5A are 3 in compounds with metals, H or with NH 4+.
Exceptions are in compounds to the right; in which case
use rules 3 and 4.
G6A below O are 2 in binary compounds with metals, H
or NH4+. When they are combined with O or with a
lighter halogen, use rules 3 and 4.
G7A elements are 1 in binary compounds with metals,
H or NH4+ or with a heavier halogen. When combined
with O or a lighter halogen, use rules 3 and 4.

Redox equations
Net ionic equations summarize the
essentials of a reaction without including all
the particles present
Redox equations are a subset which involve
electron transfer
Without being given all the information,
balancing redox equations involves
balancing electron flow

Balancing redox equations:

systematic methods
Oxidation number method tracking
changes in the oxidation numbers
Half-reaction method tracking changes in
the flow of electrons
Same principles, different emphasis
We will examine the half-reaction method

The Half-Reaction method

Any redox process can be written as the
sum of two half reactions: one for the
oxidation and one for the reduction

Six habits of the redox equation

balancer

STEP 1: the unbalanced equation

Dichromate ion reacts with chloride ion to
produce chlorine and chromium (III)
Cr2O72 (aq ) Cl (aq ) Cr 3 (aq ) Cl2 (aq )

STEP 2: identify the oxidized and

reduced and write the half reactions
Oxidation half-reaction

Cl (aq ) Cl2 (aq )

Reduction half-reaction
Cr2O72 (aq ) Cr 3 (aq )

STEP 3: Balance the half reactions

Oxidation

2Cl (aq ) Cl2 (aq )

Reduction
Cr2O72 (aq) 2Cr 3 (aq )

Material balance with H2O and H+ or OH2MnO4 (aq) 5 2 Br (aq) 2Mn 2 (aq) 5Br2 (aq)

Strategy: add H2O to the side that lacks for

O and add H+ (the reaction is in acid
solution) to the other side

2MnO4 (aq) 10 Br (aq) 16 H (aq) 2Mn 2 (aq) 5Br2 (aq) 8H 2O(l )

In basic solution we add OH- and H2O

instead of H2O and H+ respectively

2MnO4 (aq) 10 Br (aq) 8H 2O(aq) 2Mn 2 (aq) 5Br2 (aq) 16OH (aq)

Test equation for both atoms and charges

STEP 4: Material balance

Add H2O to the side lacking O and add H + to
the other side (for reactions in acid solution)
Oxidation reaction unchanged

2Cl (aq ) Cl2 (aq )

Reduction reaction
14 H (aq ) Cr2O72 (aq ) 2Cr 3 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )

STEP 5: Balance half-reactions for

charge by addition of electrons
Balance charges on both sides of each
half-reaction
2 x -1 = 2 x -1

2Cl (aq ) Cl2 (aq ) 2e

14 x +1 + -2 + 6 x -1 = 2 x +3
14 H (aq ) Cr2O72 (aq ) 6e 2Cr 3 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )

STEP 5 cont: Multiply by factors to

balance total electrons
Overall change in electrons must be zero
Multiply the oxidation half reaction by 3
3x2=6

3 2Cl (aq ) Cl2 (aq ) 2e

14 H (aq ) Cr2O72 (aq ) 6e 2Cr 3 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )

STEP 6: Add half reactions and

eliminate common items

6Cl (aq ) 3Cl2 (aq ) 6e

2
7

14 H (aq ) Cr2O

+
(aq ) 6e
=

2Cr 3 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )

14 H (aq ) Cr2O72 (aq ) 6Cl (aq ) 2Cr 3 (aq ) 3Cl2 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )

Electrons cancel both sides

Atoms and charges balance

Balanced molecular equation

Add in the spectators: there will always be
space.
Reagents were K2Cr2O7, NaCl and H2SO4

Net ionic equation

14 H (aq ) Cr2O72 (aq ) 6Cl (aq ) 2Cr 3 (aq ) 3Cl2 (aq) 7 H 2O(l )

Balanced molecular equation

7 H 2 SO4 (aq ) K 2Cr2O7 (aq ) 6 NaCl (aq ) Cr2 ( SO4 ) 3 (aq ) 3Cl 2 ( aq ) K 2 SO4 (aq ) 7 H 2O(l )