S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS

Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

MODULE 3
Electrochemistry Part 1
Balancing Redox Reactions

ASST. PROF. GIDEON A. LEGASPI, RCh, MSc

Module Author

Biological Sciences Department

College of Science and Computer Studies
De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
Dasmariñas City, Cavite

Page | 1
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Redox Reactions

Redox reaction is characterized by transfer of electrons between reacting chemical

species. Identifying a redox reaction is not easy because the transfer of electron is not
indicated in a balanced chemical equation. To make things simpler, the half-reaction method
is used for analyzing a redox reaction wherein the reaction is broken down into two half-
reactions involving related reactants and products. After writing the half-reactions, the change
in the oxidation number (ON) of the reacting chemical species in the reactant and product
sides are analyzed. For example, consider the reaction between copper and silver:

Cu + 2Ag+→ Cu2+ + 2Ag

The first step is to break down the reaction into two half-reactions involving similar substances,
in this case involving copper and silver respectively. The copper half-reaction is therefore:

The ON of copper on the reactant side is zero because it is in the elemental form while the ON
of copper on the product side is obviously +2. The ON of copper therefore increases from zero
to +2. When the oxidation number of a substance increases from reactant to product, it
indicates loss of electron(s). If electron(s) is lost in the process, an oxidation reaction occurs.
The copper half-reaction in our example is therefore the oxidation half-reaction:

Cu → Cu2+ (Oxidation half-reaction)

Now consider the silver half-reaction:

In this half-reaction, the ON of silver on the reactant side is obviously +1 while the ON of silver
on the product side is zero because it is in the elemental form. The ON of silver therefore
decreases from +1 to zero. When the oxidation number of a substance decreases from
reactant to product it indicates gain of electron(s). If electron(s) is gained a reduction reaction
occurs. The silver half-reaction is therefore the reduction half-reaction:

2Ag+ →2Ag (Reduction half-reaction)

In general, the change in the oxidation number for a half-reaction is used to determine if
the substance is oxidized or reduced. The substance where the oxidation number is increased
from reactant to product undergoes oxidation because it involves loss of electrons. Meanwhile,
Page | 2
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

the substance where the oxidation number is decreased from reactant to product undergoes
reduction because it involves gain of electrons.

One last thing to consider, a redox reaction is a tandem reaction where both reduction
and oxidation occur simultaneously. What really happens is that electron(s) is gained or lost
between the chemical species involved. The substance that is being oxidized loses electron(s)
which is gained by the substance being reduced. The substance being oxidized acts as the
reducing agent (RA) and conversely the substance being reduced acts as the oxidizing agent
(OA).

Use the mnemonic LEORA-GEROA to properly remember the features of a redox

reaction. LEORA stands for Loss of Electron(s) is Oxidation and the substance acts as
Reducing Agent. Meanwhile GEROA stands for Gain of Electron(s) is Reduction and the
substance acts as an Oxidizing Agent.

Sample Exercise. For the reaction: Cr+ + Sn4+→ Cr3+ + Sn2+

A. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
B. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions with the lost or gained electron(s).
C. Identify which reactant acts as oxidizing agent and reducing agent respectively.

Solution:
A. The half reactions are Cr+ → Cr3+ and Sn4+ → + Sn2+. The chromium half-reaction shows
that the ON of chromium changes from +1 to +3 which is an increase in the ON. The increase in
ON indicates that chromium undergoes oxidation. Meanwhile, the tin half-reaction shows that the
ON of tin changes from +4 to +2 which is a decrease in the ON. The decrease in the ON
indicates the reduction of tin. The redox half-reactions are therefore:

Cr+ → Cr3+ (Oxidation half-reaction)

Sn4+ → + Sn2+ (Reduction half-reaction)

B. Since the ON of chromium changes from +1 to +3 it means that Cr + loses 2 electrons to form
Cr3+ [Cr+ → Cr3+ + 2e-]. Meanwhile, the ON of tin changes from +4 to +2 which means that
Sn4+ gains 2 electrons to form Sn 2+ [Sn4+ + 2e- → Sn2+]. The half-reactions with the indicated
gained or lost electrons are therefore:

Cr+ → Cr3+ + 2e- (Oxidation half-reaction)

Sn4+ + 2e- → + Sn2+ (Reduction half-reaction)

C. The substance that is oxidized serves as the reducing agent while the substance being
reduced serves as the oxidizing agent. In this case Cr+ acts as reducing agent since it was
the oxidized substance while Sn4+ acts as the oxidizing agent since it was the reduced
substance.

Page | 3
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Balancing Redox Reactions

Balancing redox reactions is not a straight-forward process because of certain
complexities involving electron transfer under different pH conditions. As you have learned
earlier, the half-reaction method breaks down a redox reaction into two half-reactions involving
related reactant and product. As per our previous example, the half -reactions for the reaction
of copper and silver ion, Cu +2Ag+→Cu2+ + 2Ag is:

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- (Oxidation half-reaction)

2Ag+ + 2e- →2Ag (Reduction half-reaction)

Did you notice that the number of electrons lost and gained in the process is equal or
balanced; as such it is cancelled out in the net reaction, Cu +2Ag+→Cu2+ + 2Ag. Balancing
electrons is an important step in balancing a redox equation. The pH condition would influence
the process, making balancing a bit more complex than your usual chemical equation
balancing. In this section we will be delving into balancing of redox equation under neutral,
acidic, and basic conditions. To avoid confusion and errors, follow the stepwise procedures
diligently. Are you ready to investigate the interesting process of redox reaction balancing? If
so, let the learning begin!

Balancing under Neutral Condition

The following are the sequential steps for balancing a redox reaction under neutral
condition. Let us use the given reaction between bromine and aluminum as example:

Br2 + Al → Br - + Al3+ (unbalanced)

Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.

Br2 → Br -
Al → Al3+

Step 2 – Balance the atoms at each side of the half-reactions.

Br2 → 2Br -
Al → Al3+

The coefficient two was added to Br – to balance the number of bromine atoms in the bromine
half-reaction. The number of aluminum atoms is already balanced in the aluminum half-
reaction.

Page | 4
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Step 3 – Determine the lost or gained electrons for each half-reaction.

Br2 + 2e- → 2Br –

Al → Al3+ + 3e-

Two electrons were gained by Br 2 to form 2Br- while three electrons were lost by Al to form
Al3+.

Step 4 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

3 (Br2 + 2e- → 2Br –) = 3Br2 + 6e- → 6Br –

2 (Al → Al3+ + 3e-) = 2Al → 2Al3+ + 6e-

The number of gained electrons at a half-reaction should be equal to the number of lost
electrons from the other half-reaction. Multiply bromine and aluminum half-reactions with a
factor of 3 and 2 respectively to balance the number of electrons to six for each half-reaction.

Step 5 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the final balanced net reaction.

3Br2 + 6e- → 6Br –

2Al → 2Al3+ + 6e-

3Br2 + 2Al → 6Br – + 2Al3+

Did you notice the electrons are cancelled out when the two half-reactions are added? This is
so because whatever electron is lost at a half-reaction is gained by the other half-reaction!

You can double check your answer by counting the atoms and total charge on the reactant and
product sides which should be equal:

3Br2 + 2Al → 6Br – + 2Al3+

Br 6 = 6
Al 2 = 2
Total charge 0 + 0 = -6 + 6 → 0=0

If you find any imbalance it means that you have committed an error somewhere in any of the
steps above. Kindly go back to each step and look where you might have committed a mistake
and do the necessary corrections until you obtain the balanced reaction. As they say try and
try until you succeed! ☺

Page | 5
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Balancing under Acidic Condition

The following are the sequential steps for balancing a redox reaction under acidic
condition. Let us use the given reaction between dichromate and nitrous acid as example:

Cr2O72- + HNO2 → Cr3+ + NO3- (unbalanced)

Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.

Cr2O72- → Cr3+
HNO2 → NO3-

Step 2 – Balance the atoms other than O and H at each side of the half-reactions.

Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+
HNO2 → NO3-

To balance chromium in the first half-reaction, multiply Cr on the product side with 2. Nitrogen
is already balanced on the second half-reaction.

Step 3 – Balance oxygen by adding H2O for every deficient oxygen atom.

Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

H2O + HNO2 → NO3-

There are 7 oxygen atoms in Cr 2O72- and none at the product side, which is why 7H2O
molecules should be added to Cr3+. Meanwhile, HNO2 has one deficient oxygen atom
compared to NO3-, which is why a H2O molecule should be added to HNO2.

Step 4 – Balance hydrogen by adding H+ for every deficient hydrogen atom.

14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

H2O + HNO2 → NO3- + 3H+

There are 14 H atoms on the product side of the first half-reaction (coming from 7H2O) but
none on the reactant side, which is why 14H+should be added to Cr2O72-. Meanwhile, there are
3 H atoms on the reactant side of the 2nd half-reaction (coming from H2O and HNO2) but none
on the product side, which is why 3H+should be added to NO3- side.

Step 5 – Balance the charge for each half-reaction with electrons.

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

H2O + HNO2 → NO3- + 3H+ + 2e-

Page | 6
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

For the 1st half-reaction, the charges are 14(1) + (-2) → 2 (3) or 12 → 6. This means that you
need to add 6 electrons to the reactant side to balance the charges on both sides: 12 + -6 → 6
or 6 → 6.

For the 2nd half-reaction, the charges are 0 → -1+ 3(1) or 0 → 2. This means that you need to
add 2 electrons to the product side to balance the charges on both sides: 0 → 2 + -2 or 0 → 0.

Step 6 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

3 (H2O + HNO2 → NO3- + 3H+ + 2e-)

Multiply the 2nd half-reaction by a factor of 3 to balance the number of electrons for both half-
reactions to 6 apiece.

6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

3H2O + 3HNO2 → 3NO3- + 9H+ + 6e-

Step 7 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the final balanced net reaction.

5H+ 4H2O
6e- + 14H+ + Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
3H2O + 3HNO2 → 3NO3- + 9H+ + 6e-

5H+ + Cr2O72- + 3HNO2 → 2Cr3+ + 4H2O + 3NO3-

Take note of the cancellation of electrons, H2O, and H+ on the opposite sides.

You can double check your answer by counting the atoms and total charge on the reactant and
product sides which of should be equal:

5H+ + Cr2O72- + 3HNO2 → 2Cr3+ + 4H2O + 3NO3-

H 5 + 3 = 8 →8=8
Cr 2 = 2
O 7 + 6 = 4 + 9 → 13 = 13
N 3 = 3
Total charge 5 + -2 + 0 = 6 + 0 + -3 → 3 = 3

If you find any imbalance it means that you have committed an error somewhere in any of the
steps above. Kindly go back to each step and look where you might have committed a mistake
and do the necessary corrections until obtain a balanced equation. I know you are not a
quitter, so I commend you for your diligent efforts! ☺

Page | 7
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Balancing under Basic Condition

The following are the sequential steps for balancing a redox reaction under basic
condition using the given chemical equation as example:
Ag- + Zn2+ → Ag2O + Zn (unbalanced)

Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.

Ag → Ag2O
Zn2+ → Zn

Step 2 – Balance the atoms other than O and H at each side of the half-reactions.

2Ag → Ag2O
Zn2+ → Zn

To balance Ag in the first half-reaction, multiply Ag at the reactant side with 2. Zinc is already
balanced on the second half-reaction.

Step 3 – Balance oxygen by adding H2O for every deficient oxygen atom.

H2O + 2Ag → Ag2O

Zn2+ → Zn

There is an oxygen atom in Ag2O and none on the reactant side, which is why a H2O molecule
should be added to Ag. Meanwhile, there is no oxygen atom on the second half-reaction.

Step 4 – Balance hydrogen by adding H+ for every deficient hydrogen atom.

H2O + 2Ag → Ag2O + 2H+

Zn2+ → Zn

There are 2 hydrogen atoms in the reactant side of the first half-reaction but none on the
product side, which is why 2H+should be added to Ag2O. Meanwhile, there are no H atoms on
the 2nd half-reaction.

Step 5 – Balance the charge of each half-reaction with electrons.

H2O + 2Ag → Ag2O + 2H+ + 2e-

2e- + Zn2+ → Zn

For the 1st half-reaction, the charges are 0 → 2. This means that you need to add 2 electrons
to the product side to balance the charges on both sides: 0 → 2 + -2 or 0 → 0.
Page | 8
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

For the 2nd half-reaction, the charges are 2 → 0. This means that you need to add 2 electrons
to the reactant side to balance the charges on both sides: -2 + 2 → 0 or 0 → 0.

Step 6 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

H2O + 2Ag → Ag2O + 2H+ + 2e-

2e- + Zn2+ → Zn

The number of electrons is already balanced for both half-reactions.

Step 7 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the balanced net reaction.

H2O + 2Ag → Ag2O + 2H+ + 2e-

2e- + Zn2+ → Zn
H2O + 2Ag + Zn2+ → Ag2O + 2H+ + Zn

Cancel opposite electrons, H2O, and H+.

Step 8 – Neutralize all H+ by adding the same number of OH- on both sides of the equation.

2OH- + H2O + 2Ag + Zn2+ → Ag2O + 2H+ + 2OH- + Zn

Form H2O from H+ and OH- on the same side of the equation. Lastly, adjust H 2O in the
equation to obtain the final balanced net reaction.

2OH- + H2O + 2Ag + Zn2+ → Ag2O + 2H2O + Zn

2OH- + 2Ag + Zn2+ → Ag2O + H2O + Zn

Did you notice that balancing under acidic and basic conditions have the same common steps
except for the last step which is unique for basic condition?

You can double check your answer by counting the atoms and total charge on the reactant and
product sides which of should be equal:

2OH- + 2Ag + Zn2+ → Ag2O + H2O + Zn

O 2 = 1+ 1 →2=2
H 2 = 2
Ag 2 = 2
Zn 1 = 1
Total charge -2 + 0 + 2 = 0 + 0 +0 → 0=0

If you find any imbalance it means that you have committed an error somewhere in any of the
steps. Kindly go back to each step and look where you may have committed a mistake and
correct them. Patience is a virtue as they say! ☺
Page | 9
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

PRACTICE EXERCISES

Practice Exercise 1. For the reaction: CO + I2O5 → CO2 + I2

A. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
B. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions with the lost or gained electron(s).
C. Identify which reactant acts as oxidizing agent and reducing agent respectively.

Solution:
A.

B.

C.

Page | 10

Note: The solution to the Practice Exercise can be found on the Appendix
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Practice Exercise 2. Balance the given redox reaction under neutral condition:
Cr2+ + Sn4+→ Cr3+ + Sn2+
Solution:

Note: The solution to the Practice Exercise can be found on the Appendix

Page | 11
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Practice Exercise 3. Balance the given redox reaction under acidic condition:
Fe + MnO4- → Fe3+ + Mn
Solution:

Note: The solution to the Practice Exercise can be found on the Appendix

Page | 12
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Practice Exercise 4 Balance the given redox reaction under basic condition:
Cu + NO3- → Cu2+ + NO2
Solution:

Note: The solution to the Practice Exercise can be found on the Appendix

Page | 13
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

References

1. Brown TL, Le May EH, Bursten BE, Murphy C. 2014. Chemistry: The Central Science. 12 th
ed. Singapore (SG): Pearson Education South Asia.

2. Legaspi GA, Igat JB, De Salit MA. 2019. Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory Manual.
Cavite, Philippines: Unpublished.

3. Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1982. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NJKV). Nashville
(TN): HarperCollins Christian Publishing.
4. Zumdahl SS. 2017. Chemical Principles. 8th ed. Boston (MA): Cengage Learning.

Page | 14
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Appendix – Solutions to Practice Exercises

Practice Exercise 1. For the reaction: CO + I2O5 → CO2 + I2

A. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
B. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions with the lost or gained electron(s).
C. Identify which reactant acts as oxidizing agent and reducing agent respectively.
Solution:
A. The half reactions are CO → CO2 and I2O5 → + I2. You need to first determine the oxidation
numbers of carbon atoms in the carbon half-reaction and iodine atoms in the iodine half-
reaction. Remember that oxygen has a fixed -2 oxidation number.
For CO, the oxidation number of carbon is +2: [C + -2(1) = 0 → C = +2]. Meanwhile for CO2,
the oxidation number of carbon is +4: [C + 2(-2) = 0 → C = +4]. The carbon half-reaction
therefore shows that the oxidation number of carbon changes from +2 to +4 which is an
increase in the oxidation number. This increase in oxidation number indicates that carbon is
oxidized.
For I2O5 the oxidation number of iodine is +5: [2I + -2(5) = 0 → 2I = +10 → I = +5].
Meanwhile for I2, the oxidation number of iodine is zero because it is in its elemental form.
The iodine half-reaction therefore shows that the oxidation number of iodine changes from
+5 to 0 which is a decrease in the oxidation number. This decrease in oxidation number
indicates that iodine is reduced.
The redox half-reactions are therefore:
CO → CO2 (Oxidation half-reaction)
I2O5 → + I2 (Reduction half-reaction)
B. Since the oxidation number of carbon changes from +2 to +4, it means that carbon loses 2
electrons as it transforms from CO to CO 2 [CO → CO2 + 2e-]. Meanwhile, the oxidation
number of iodine changes from +5 to 0 which means that iodine gains 5 electrons as it
transforms from I2O5 to I2 [I2O5 + 5e- → I2 ]. The half-reactions with the indicated gained or lost
electrons are therefore:
CO → CO2 + 2e- (Oxidation half-reaction)
I2O5 + 5e- → + I2 (Reduction half-reaction)
C. The substance that is oxidized serves as the reducing agent while the substance being
reduced serves as the oxidizing agent. In this case CO acts as reducing agent since it was
the oxidized substance while I2O5 acts as the oxidizing agent since it was the reduced
substance.

Page | 15
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Practice Exercise 2. Balance the given redox reaction under neutral condition:
Cr2+ + Sn4+→ Cr3+ + Sn2+
Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.
Cr2+ → Cr3+
Sn4+→ Sn2+

Step 2 – Balance the atoms at each side of the half-reactions.

Cr2+ → Cr3+
Sn4+→ Sn2+
All atoms are already balanced for each respective half-reaction.

Step 3 – Determine the lost or gained electrons for each half-reaction.

Cr2+ → Cr3+ + e-
2e- + Sn4+→ Sn2+
An electron is lost by Cr to form Cr2+ while two electrons are gained by Sn4+to form Sn2+.
2+

Step 4 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

2 (Cr2+ → Cr3+ + e-) = 2Cr2+ → 2Cr3+ + 2e-
2e- + Sn4+→ Sn2+ = 2e- + Sn4+→ Sn2+
Chromium loses an electron while tin gains 2 electrons. The number of gained electrons should be
equal to the lost electrons. Multiply chromium half-reactions with a factor of 2 to balance the number
of electrons.

Step 5 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the final balanced net reaction.
2Cr2+ → 2Cr3+ + 2e-
2e- + Sn4+→ Sn2+

2Cr2+ + Sn4+ → 2Cr3+ + Sn2+

Double check the final answer
2Cr2+ + Sn4+ → 2Cr3+ + Sn2+
Cr 2 = 2
Sn 1 = 1
Total charge 4 + 4 = 6 + 2 → 8=8

Page | 16
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Practice Exercise 3. Balance the given redox reaction under acidic condition:
Fe + MnO4- → Fe3+ + Mn
Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.
Fe → Fe3+
MnO4- → Mn

Step 2 – Balance the atoms other than O and H at each side of the half-reactions.
Fe → Fe3+
MnO4- → Mn
Fe and Mn are already balance on the respective half-reactions.

Step 3 – Balance oxygen by adding H2O for every deficient oxygen atom.
Fe → Fe3+
MnO4- → Mn + 4H2O
There are 4 oxygen atoms in MnO 4- and none at the product side, which is why 4H2O molecules
should be added to Mn.

Step 4 – Balance hydrogen by adding H+ for every deficient hydrogen atom.

Fe → Fe3+
8H + MnO4- → Mn + 4H2O
+

There are 8 hydrogen atoms on the product side of the manganese half-reaction (coming from
4H2O) but none in the reactant side, which is why 8H+ should be added to MnO4-.

Step 5 – Balance the charge of each half-reaction with electrons.

Fe → Fe3+ + 3e-
7e- + 8H+ + MnO4- → Mn + 4H2O
For the 1 half-reaction, the charges are 0 → 3. This means that you need to add 3 electrons to
st

the product side to balance the charges on both sides: 0 → 3 + -3 or 0 → 0.

For the 2nd half-reaction, the charges are 8 + -1 → 0 + 0 or 7 → 0. This means that you need to
add 7 electrons to the reactant side to balance the charges on both sides: 7 + -7 → 0 or 0 → 0.

Step 6 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

7(Fe → Fe3+ + 3e-)
3(7e- + 8H+ + MnO4- → Mn + 4H2O)
st
Multiply the 1 and 2nd half-reaction by a factor of 7 and 3 respectively to balance the number of
electrons for both half-reactions to 21e-.
7Fe → 7Fe3+ + 21e-
21e- + 24H+ + 3MnO4- → 3Mn + 12H2O

Step 7 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the final balanced net reaction.

7Fe → 7Fe3+ + 21e-

21e- + 24H + 3MnO4- → 3Mn + 12H2O
+

7Fe + 24H+ + 3MnO4- → 7Fe3+ + 3Mn + 12H2O

Page | 17
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Double check the final answer

7Fe + 24H+ + 3MnO4- → 7Fe3+ + 3Mn + 12H2O
Fe 7 = 7
H 24 = 24
Mn 3 = 3
O 12 = 12
Total charge 0 + 24 + -3 = 21 + 0 + 0 → 21 = 21

Practice Exercise 4 Balance the given redox reaction under basic condition:
Cu + NO3- → Cu2+ + NO2
Step 1 – Write the half-reactions.
Cu → Cu2+
NO3- → NO2

Step 2 – Balance the atoms other than O and H at each side of the half-reactions.
Cu → Cu2+
NO3- → NO2
Cu and Mn are already balance on the respective half-reactions.

Step 3 – Balance oxygen by adding H2O for every deficient oxygen atom.
Cu → Cu2+
NO3- → NO2 + H2O
-
There are 3 oxygen atoms in NO3 and 2 in NO2, which is why a H2O molecule should be added to
NO2 to compensate for one deficient O atom.

Step 4 – Balance hydrogen by adding H+ for every deficient hydrogen atom.

Cu → Cu2+
2H + NO3- → NO2 + H2O
+

There are 2 hydrogen atoms on the product side of the 2nd half-reaction (coming from H2O) but
none in the reactant side, which is why 2H+ should be added to NO3-.

Step 5 – Balance the charge of each half-reaction with electrons.

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
1e- + 2H + NO3- → NO2 + H2O
+

For the 1 half-reaction, the charges are 0 → 2. This means that you need to add 2 electrons to the
st

product side to balance the charges on both sides: 0 → 2 + -2 or 0 → 0.

For the 2nd half-reaction, the charges are 2 + -1 → 0 + 0 or 1 → 0. This means that you need to add
1 electron to the reactant side to balance the charges on both sides: -1 + 1 → 0 or 0 → 0.

Step 6 – Balance the number of electrons for both half-reactions.

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
2 (1e- + 2H + NO3- → NO2 + H2O)
+

Multiply the 2nd half-reaction by a factor of 2 to balance the number of electrons for both half-
reactions to 2e-.
Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- Page | 18
2e- + 4H + 2NO3- → 2NO2 + 2H2O
+
 S-ECHE001-CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Module 3: Electrochemistry (Balancing Redox Reactions)

Step 7 – Add up the half-reactions to obtain the balanced net reaction.

Cu → Cu2+ + 2e-
2e- + 4H + 2NO3- → 2NO2 + 2H2O
+

Cu + 4H+ + 2NO3- → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 2H2O

Step 8 – Neutralize all H+ by adding the same number of OH- on both sides of the equation.
Cu + 4H+ + 4OH- + 2NO3- → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 2H2O + 4OH-

Form H2O from H+ and OH- on the same side of the equation. Lastly, cancel adjust H 2O in the
equation to obtain the final balanced net reaction.

Cu + 4H+ + 4OH- + 2NO3- → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 2H2O + 4OH-

4H2O
2

Cu + 2H2O + 2NO3- → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 4OH-

To double check the final answer

Cu + 2H2O + 2NO3- → Cu2+ + 2NO2 + 4OH-
Cu 1 = 1
H 4 = 4
O 2 + 6 = 4 + 4
N 2 = 2
Total charge 0 + 0 + -2 = 2 + 0 + -4 → -2 = -2

Page | 19