CHAPTER THREE

Balancing Chemical Equation (3)

3.9 We follow the steps are described in detail in Section 19.1 of the text.

(a) The problem is given in ionic form, so combining Steps 1 and 2, the half−reactions are:

oxidation: Fe2+ → Fe3+

reduction: H2O2 → H2O

Combining Steps 3 and 4, balancing the second equation for O and H gives:

2H+ + H2O2 → 2H2O

Step 5 involves balancing both equations for charge with electrons:

Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e−
2H+ + H2O2 + 2e− → 2H2O

We multiply the first half−reaction by 2 to equalize charge, add, and cancel electrons to
reach the balanced equation.

2Fe2+ + 2H+ + H2O2 → 2Fe3+ + 2H2O

(b) The problem is given in ionic form, so combining Steps 1 and 2, the half−reactions are:

oxidation: Cu → Cu2+
reduction: HNO3 → NO

Combining Steps 3 and 4, balancing the reduction half reaction for O with H2O and for H
with H+ gives

3H+ + HNO3 → NO + 2H2O

The oxidation half reaction is already mass balanced.

Step 5 involves balancing both equations for charge with electrons:

3e− + 3H+ + HNO3 → NO + 2H2O

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e−

We multiply the first half−reaction by 2 and the second half−reaction by 3 to equalize charge
(6 e− on each side of the equation, add, and cancel electrons to reach the balanced equation.

3Cu + 2HNO3 + 6H+ → 3Cu2+ + 2NO + 4H2O

(c) 3CN− + 2MnO4− + H2O → 3CNO− + 2MnO2 + 2OH−

(d) 3Br2 + 6OH− → BrO3− + 5Br− + 3H2O

(e) Half−reactions balanced for S and I:

oxidation: 2S2O32− → S4O62−

reduction: I2 → 2I−
 Both half−reactions are already balanced for O, so we balance charge with electrons

2S2O32− → S4O62− + 2e−

I2 + 2e− → 2I−

The electron count is the same on both sides. We add and cancel electrons to obtain the
finished equation

2S2O32− + I2 → S4O62− + 2I−

3.10 (a)
Step 1: Separate the equation into two half-reactions.

oxidation
Mn2+  → MnO2
reduction
H2O2  → H2O

Step 2: Balance the atoms other than O and H in each half-reaction separately.

The oxidation half-reaction is already balanced for Mn atoms.

Step 3: Assume that the reaction is taking place in an acidic medium. Add H2O to balance the O
atoms and H+ to balance the H atoms.

For the oxidation half-reaction, add 2 H2O to the left-hand side of the equation to balance the O
atoms.

Mn2+ + 2 H2O 
→ MnO2

To balance the H atoms, we add 4 H+ to the right-hand side.

Mn2+ + 2 H2O 
→ MnO2 + 4 H+

For the reduction half-reaction, we add one H2O to the right-hand side of the equation to balance
the O atoms.

H 2O 2 
→ 2 H2O

To balance the H atoms, we add 2 H+ to the left-hand side.

H 2O 2 + 2 H + 
→ 2 H2O

Step 4: Since this reaction is in basic solution, we add one OH− to both sides for each H+ and
combine pairs of H+ and OH− on the same side of the arrow to form H2O.

Mn2+ + 2 H2O + 4 OH− 

→ MnO2 + 4 H2O
→ 2 H2O + 2 OH−
H2O2 + 2 H2O 

We remove extra H2O.

Mn2+ + 4 OH− 
→ MnO2 + 2 H2O
 → 2 OH−
H 2O 2 

Step 5: Add electrons to one side of each half-reaction to balance the charge.

Mn2+ + 4 OH− 
→ MnO2 + 2 H2O + 2e−
H2O2 + 2e− 
→ 2 OH−

Step 6: We can now add the reactions because the number of electrons gained (2 e−) equals the
number of electrons lost (2 e−). Canceling extra OH− and electrons gives the completed
balanced equation.

Mn2+ + H2O2 + 2 OH− 

→ MnO2 + 2 H2O

Check to see that the equation is balanced by verifying that the equation has the same types and
numbers of atoms and the same charges on both sides of the equation.

(b) This problem can be solved by the same methods used in part (a).

2 Bi(OH)3 + 3 SnO22−− 
→ 2 Bi + 3 H2O + 3 SnO32−−

(c)
Step 1: Separate the equation into two half-reactions.

oxidation
C2O42−  → CO2
reduction
Cr2O72−  → Cr3+

Step 2: Balance the atoms other than O and H in each half-reaction separately.

In the oxidation half-reaction, we need to balance the C atoms.

C2O42− 
→ 2 CO2

In the reduction half-reaction, we need to balance the Cr atoms.

Cr2O72− 
→ 2 Cr3+

Step 3: Add H2O to balance the O atoms and H+ to balance the H atoms.

In the oxidation half-reaction, the O atoms are already balanced.

Cr2O72− + 14 H+ 
→ 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

Step 4: Add electrons to one side of each half-reaction to balance the charge.

→ 2 CO2 + 2e−
C2O42− 
Cr2O72− + 14 H+ + 6e− 
→ 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

Step 5: The number of electrons gained must equal the number of electrons lost. Multiply the
oxidation half-reaction by 3, so that 6 e− are transferred.
 → 6 CO2 + 6e−
3 C2O42− 
Cr2O72− + 14 H+ + 6e− 
→ 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

Step 6: Add the two half-reactions and balance the final equation by inspection. The electrons on
both sides of the equation must cancel.

Cr2O72−− + 14 H+ + 3 C2O42−− 
→ 2 Cr3+ + 6 CO2 + 7 H2O

(d) This problem can be solved by the same methods used in part (c).

2 Cl− + 2 ClO3− + 4 H+ 
→ Cl2 + 2 ClO2 + 2 H2O

3.11 (a) The half−reactions are: H2(g) → 2H+(aq) + 2e−

Ni2+(aq) + 2e− → Ni(s)
The complete balanced equation is: Ni2+(aq) + H2(g) → Ni(s) + 2H+(aq)

Ni(s) is below and to the right of H+(aq) in Table 19.1 of the text (see the half−reactions at
−0.25 and 0.00 V). Therefore, the spontaneous reaction is the reverse of the above reaction,
that is:

Ni(s) + 2H+(aq) → Ni2+(aq) + H2(g)

(b) The half−reactions are: MnO4−(aq) + 8H+(aq) + 5e− → Mn2+(aq) + 4H2O

2Cl−(aq) → Cl2(g) + 2e−
The complete balanced equation is:

2MnO4−(aq) + 16H+(aq) + 10Cl−(aq) → 2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O + 5Cl2(g)

In Table 19.1 of the text, Cl−(aq) is below and to the right of MnO4−(aq); therefore the
spontaneous reaction is as written.