1.

H2S + HNO3 → NO + S + H2O

Step 1. Write down the unbalanced equation of the chemical reaction. All reactants and
products must be known. For a better result write the reaction in ionic form.

H2S + HNO3 → NO + S + H2O

Step 2. Separate the process into half reactions. A redox reaction is nothing but both
oxidation and reduction reactions taking place simultaneously.

a) Assign oxidation numbers for each atom in the equation.

H+12S-2 + H+1N+5O-23 → N+2O-2 + S0 + H+12O-2

b) Identify and write out all redox couples in reaction

O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e-(S)
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- → N+2O-2(N)

c) Combine these redox couples into two half-reactions: one for the oxidation, and one for the
reduction (see: Divide the redox reaction into two half-reactions).
O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e-
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- → N+2O-2

Step 3. Balance the atoms in each half reaction.

a) Balance all other atoms except hydrogen and oxygen

O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e-
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- → N+2O-2

b) Balance the charge.

O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e- + 2H+
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- + 3H+ → N+2O-2

c) Balance the oxygen atoms. Check if there are the same numbers of oxygen atoms on the
left and right side, if they aren't equilibrate these atoms by adding water molecules.
O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e- + 2H+
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- + 3H+ → N+2O-2 + 2H2O

Step 4. Make electron gain equivalent to electron lost.

O: H+12S-2 → S0 + 2e- + 2H+| *3
R: H+1N+5O-23 + 3e- + 3H+ → N+2O-2 + 2H2O| *2

O: 3H+12S-2 → 3S0 + 6e- + 6H+

R: 2H+1N+5O-23 + 6e- + 6H+ → 2N+2O-2 + 4H2O

Step 5. Add the half-reactions together.

3H+12S-2 + 2H+1N+5O-23 + 6e- + 6H+ → 3S0 + 2N+2O-2 + 6e- + 4H2O + 6H+

Step 6. Simplify the equation.

3H+12S-2 + 2H+1N+5O-23 → 3S0 + 2N+2O-2 + 4H2O
  Always check to see that the equation is balanced. First, verify that the equation
contains the same type and number of atoms on both sides of the equation.

ELEMENT LEFT RIGHT DIFFERENCE

H 3x2+2x1 4x2 0
S 3x1 3x1 0
N 2x1 2x1 0
O 2x3 2x1+4x1 0

Second, verify that the sum of the charges on one side of the equation is equal to the sum of
the charges on the other side. It doesn't matter what the charge is as long as it is the same on
both sides.

3x0+2x0 = 3x0+2x0+4x0

0 = 0

Since the sum of individual atoms on the left side of the equation matches the sum of the
same atoms on the right side, and since the charges on both sides are equal we can write a
balanced equation.

ANSWER:
3H2S + 2HNO3 → 2NO + 3S + 4H2O
 2. MnO4- + H2S → Mn2+ + S8

Step 1. Write down the unbalanced equation of the chemical reaction. All reactants and
products must be known. For a better result write the reaction in ionic form.
MnO4- + H2S → Mn2+ + S8

Step 2. Separate the process into half reactions. A redox reaction is nothing but both
oxidation and reduction reactions taking place simultaneously.

a) Assign oxidation numbers for each atom in the equation.

Mn+7O-24- + H+12S-2 → Mn+22+ + S08

b) Identify and write out all redox couples in reaction.

O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e-(S)
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- → Mn+22+(Mn)

c) Combine these redox couples into two half-reactions: one for the oxidation, and one for the
reduction (see: Divide the redox reaction into two half-reactions).
O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e-
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- → Mn+22+

Step 3. Balance the atoms in each half reaction.

a) Balance all other atoms except hydrogen and oxygen.

O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e-
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- → Mn+22+

b) Balance the charge.

O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e- + 16H+
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- + 8H+ → Mn+22+

c) Balance the oxygen atoms. Check if there are the same numbers of oxygen atoms on the
left and right side, if they aren't equilibrate these atoms by adding water molecules.
O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e- + 16H+
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- + 8H+ → Mn+22+ + 4H2O

Step 4. Make electron gain equivalent to electron lost.

O: 8H+12S-2 → S08 + 16e- + 16H+| *5
R: Mn+7O-24- + 5e- + 8H+ → Mn+22+ + 4H2O| *16

O: 40H+12S-2 → 5S08 + 80e- + 80H+

R: 16Mn+7O-24- + 80e- + 128H+ → 16Mn+22+ + 64H2O

Step 5. Add the half-reactions together.

40H+12S-2 + 16Mn+7O-24- + 80e- + 128H+ → 5S08 + 16Mn+22+ + 80e- + 64H2O + 80H+

Step 6. Simplify the equation. The same species on opposite sides of the arrow can be
canceled. Write the equation so that the coefficients are the smallest set of integers possible.

40H+12S-2 + 16Mn+7O-24- + 48H+ → 5S08 + 16Mn+22+ + 64H2O

 Always check to see that the equation is balanced. First, verify that the equation contains
the same type and number of atoms on both sides of the equation.

ELEMENT LEFT RIGHT

DIFFERENCE
H 40 x 2 + 48 x 1 64 x 2 0
S 40 x 1 5x8 0
Mn 16 x 1 16 x 1 0
O 16 x 4 64 x 1 0

Second, verify that the sum of the charges on one side of the equation is equal to the sum of
the charges on the other side. It doesn't matter what the charge is as long as it is the same on
both sides.

40 x 0 + 16 x -1 + 48 x 1 = 5 x 0 + 16 x 2 + 64 x 0

32 = 32

Since the sum of individual atoms on the left side of the equation matches the sum of the
same atoms on the right side, and since the charges on both sides are equal we can write a
balanced equation.

ANSWER:
16MnO4- + 40H2S + 48H+ → 16Mn2+ + 5S8 + 64H2O