10.

3 Balancing Redox Reactions

using half reaction method
SCH4U
 Balancing of Charge
Electrons are added so charges are balanced.
Which side should we add electrons?

Ie.
2 e- + Zn2+ => Zn
Cl2 + 2 e- => 2Cl-
 Balancing of Charge
Electrons are added so charges are balanced.
Which side should we add electrons?

Ie.
2 e- + Zn2+ => Zn (neutral on both sides)
Cl2 + 2 e- => 2Cl- (- 2 on both sides)
 Balancing of Elements
1) CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?
Or
2) O2 => H2O how is hydrogen balanced?
 Balancing of Elements
1) CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?
Or
2) O2 => H2O how is hydrogen balanced?

Add H2O to balance oxygen

Add H+ to balance hydrogens (acidic solution)
Add OH- to neutralize H+ (basic solution
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
1) CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?

(add one H2O on left)

H2O + CN- => CNO-
(add 2 H + on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H+
(add 2 e- on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H + + 2 e-
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?

(add one H2O on left)

H2O + CN- => CNO-
(add 2 H + on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H+
(add 2 e- on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H + + 2 e-
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?

(add one H2O on left)

H2O + CN- => CNO-
(add 2 H + on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H+
(add 2 e- on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H + + 2 e-
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?

(add one H2O on left)

H2O + CN- => CNO-
(add 2 H + on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H+
(add 2 e- on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H + + 2 e-
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
CN- => CNO- how is oxygen balanced?

(add one H2O on left)

H2O + CN- => CNO-
(add 2 H + on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H+
(add 2 e- on right)
H2O + CN- => CNO- + 2H + + 2 e-
Balanced in acidic solution - oxidation
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
2) O2 => H2O
(add an extra water on right to balance O)
O2 => H2O
(add 2H + on left to balance H)
2H+ + O2 => H2O
(add 2e - on left to balance charges)
2e - + 2H+ + O2 => H2O
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
2) O2 => H2O
(add an extra water on right to balance O)
O2 => 2H2O
(add 2H + on left to balance H)
2H+ + O2 => H2O
(add 2e - on left to balance charges)
2e - + 2H+ + O2 => H2O
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
2) O2 => H2O
(add an extra water on right to balance O)
O2 => 2H2O
(add 4H + on left to balance H)
4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 2e - on left to balance charges)
2e - + 2H+ + O2 => H2O
 Balancing of Elements in a Half
Reaction
2) O2 => H2O
(add an extra water on right to balance O)
O2 => 2H2O
(add 4H + on left to balance H)
4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4e - on left to balance charges)
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
Balanced in acidic solution - reduction
 Balancing in Basic Solution
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4OH - on both sides if balancing in basic
solution)
4e - + 4H+ + 4OH- + O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 4H2O+ O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 2H2O+ O2 => 4OH-
 Balancing in Basic Solution
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4OH - on both sides if balancing in basic
solution)
4e - + 4H+ + 4OH- + O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 4H2O+ O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 2H2O+ O2 => 4OH-
 Balancing in Basic Solution
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4OH - on both sides if balancing in basic
solution)
4e - + 4H+ + 4OH- + O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 4H2O+ O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 2H2O+ O2 => 4OH-
 Balancing in Basic Solution
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4OH - on both sides if balancing in basic
solution)
4e - + 4H+ + 4OH- + O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 4H2O+ O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 2H2O+ O2 => 4OH-
 Balancing in Basic Solution
4e - + 4H+ + O2 => 2H2O
(add 4OH - on both sides if balancing in basic
solution)
4e - + 4H+ + 4OH- + O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 4H2O+ O2 => 2H2O + 4OH-
4e - + 2H2O+ O2 => 4OH-
(simplify water and cancel) Still Reduction!
 Steps to balancing
Step Description
1 Write the unbalanced net ionic equation

2 Write 2 half-reactions

3 For each half reaction, balance atoms other than O and H first

4 For each half reaction, balance the O by adding H2O to the opposite
side
5 For each half reaction, balance the H by adding H+ (acidic)

6 For each half reaction, count the charges on each side and add
electrons to balance
7 Add the 2 half reactions together, one electrons will always be on the
opposite side. Multiply the equations such that you have an LCM
and electrons are the same.
8 Add the left side, then the right side

9 If the solution is basic, add OH- for every H+

10 Simplify the equation by combining water

 Balancing a redox reaction
Balance electrons in 2 half reactions so that they
cancel. One will undergo oxidation and one will
undergo reduction. Water can always be used
as a default.

Ie. Cu + NO3 - => Cu 2+ + N2O (acidic)

 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Divide into 2 half reactions and balance elements (not
O or H)
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O
Balance O with water
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance H with H+ (acidic)
Cu → Cu2+ 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance charges with electrons
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- 8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Divide into 2 half reactions and balance elements (not
O or H)
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O
Balance O with water
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance H with H+ (acidic)
Cu → Cu2+ 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance charges with electrons
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- 8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Divide into 2 half reactions and balance elements (not
O or H)
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O
Balance O with water
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance H with H+ (acidic)
Cu → Cu2+ 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance charges with electrons
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- 8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Divide into 2 half reactions and balance elements (not
O or H)
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O
Balance O with water
Cu → Cu2+ 2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance H with H+ (acidic)
Cu → Cu2+ 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
Balance charges with electrons
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- 8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Combine the 2 half reactions using a common
multiplier (like Hess Law) to cancel electrons.
4x Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O

4Cu → Cu2+ + 8e-

8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O

4Cu + 10H+ +2NO3- → Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O

 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Combine the 2 half reactions using a common
multiplier (like Hess Law) to cancel electrons.
4x Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O

4Cu → 4Cu2+ + 8e-

8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O

4Cu + 10H+ +2NO3- → Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O

 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (acidic)
Combine the 2 half reactions using a common
multiplier (like Hess Law) to cancel electrons.
4x Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O

4Cu → 4Cu2+ + 8e-

8e- + 10H+ +2NO3- → N2O + 5H2O
4Cu + 10H+ +2NO3- → 4Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O
(no electrons should be left in the final equation)
 - 2+
Cu + NO3 => Cu + N2O (basic)
Add OH- to both sides to neutralize H+,
Then simplify water.

4Cu + 10H+ +2NO3- → 4Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O

4Cu + 10H+ + 10 OH- +2NO3- → 4Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O + 10 OH-
4Cu + 10H2O+2NO3- → 4Cu2+ + N2O + 5H2O + 10 OH-
4Cu + 5H2O+2NO3- → 4Cu2+ + N2O + 10 OH-
(note the charge on both sides is -2)
 Practice Questions
Q. 17-20 pg. 484,
Q. 21-24 pg. 486,
Q25-28 pg. 490