Guide to Balancing REDOX Reactions

Definitions
1.
Oxidation is any chemical change in which a substance LOSES electrons and
thus increasing its oxidation state.
Ex.

Zn0 Zn2+ + 2eThe reactant that underwent oxidation is called the REDUCING AGENT.

2.
Reduction is any chemical change in which a substance GAINS electrons and
thus decreasing its oxidation state.
Ex.

S0 + 2e- S2The reactant that underwent reduction is called the OXIDIZING AGENT.

Rules in Determining Oxidation Numbers

1.

The oxidation number of an atom of a pure element is 0

Ex.
Na , K, Fe, S
N in N2, S in S8, O in O2, Cl in Cl2

2.

The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion is equal to its charge

Ex.
Copper ion [Cu2+; +2]

Azide ion [N3-; -3]

Ferric ion [Fe3+; +3]

Oxide ion [O2-; -2]

3.

Some elements have the same oxidation number in almost all their
compounds and can be used as references for oxidation numbers of other
elements in compounds. (Refer to Lab Manual for the List of Radicals / Ions
with FIXED VALENCES)

4.

The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is 0; the sum of

the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic compound equals to the charge on
the ion.
Ex.
P in P2O4

S in SO42-

J. Garcia 2014

Cl in BaCl2

C in C2O42-

P in Na3PO4

S in S2O32-

N in N2O4

Fe in Fe(CN)64-

Page 1

Guide to Balancing REDOX Reactions

Balancing REDOX Reactions
Steps in Balancing REDOX reactions using the Change in Oxidation Number
Method
1. Determine which elements undergo a change in oxidation number.
2. Write the oxidation number above each element that is oxidized or reduced.
3. Determine the change in oxidation number (i.e. the # of electrons transferred) for
each element undergoing a change in oxidation number.
4. Balance the increase and decrease of oxidation number by placing the
necessary coefficients before the reactants that are changing, using the smallest
number possible; only put these coefficients on the left side of the equation at
this point. The total increase in oxidation number must equal the total increase;
that is, the total number of electrons lost must equal the total number gained.
5. Complete the balancing by inspection. First balance those substances that
changed in oxidation state and then any atoms other than hydrogen and oxygen,
finally balance hydrogen and oxygen by putting H2O wherever needed.
6. For ionic equations, just before H2O is added (that is, the last step above), put in
H+ if in acid or OH- if in base, on either side of the equation, to balance the
charge.
7. Check the equation to see that the coefficients are the lowest possible ratio. For
ionic equations, the net charges on both sides of the equation must be exactly
the same.
Worked Examples
Balance the reaction K2Cr2O7 + H2O + S SO2 + KOH + Cr2O3

(Steps 1 3)

1.
2.

2 K2Cr2O7 + H2O + 3 S SO2 + KOH + Cr2O3

(Step 4)

3.

2 K2Cr2O7 + H2O + 3 S 3 SO2 + KOH + 2 Cr2O3

(Step 5)

4.

2 K2Cr2O7 + 2 H2O + 3 S 3 SO2 + 4 KOH + 2 Cr2O3

(Step 5 and 6)

5.

Check if atoms and charges are the same for both sides (Step 7)

Practice Problems (solve using change in oxidation number method)

1.

H2O2(aq) + Ti2+(aq) H2O(l) + Ti4+(aq) [acidic]

2.

Cl-(aq) + MnO4-(aq) Cl2(g) + MnO2(s) [acidic]

3.

Cl2(g) + OH-(aq) ClO3-(aq) + Cl-(aq) + H2O(l) [basic]

J. Garcia 2014

Page 2

Guide to Balancing REDOX Reactions

4.

F2(g) + OH- F2O(g) + F- + H2O(l) [basic]

Answers
1.

H2O2(aq) + Ti2+(aq) + 2 H3O+ 4 H2O(l) + Ti4+(aq) [acidic]

2.

6 Cl-(aq) + 2 MnO4-(aq) + 8 H+ 3 Cl2(g) + 2 MnO2(s) + 4 H2O(l) [acidic]

3.

3 Cl2(g) + 6 OH-(aq) ClO3-(aq) + 5 Cl-(aq) + 3 H2O(l) [basic]

4.

2 F2(g) + 2 OH- F2O(g) + 2 F- + H2O(l) [basic]

Practice Set:
KMnO4 + HCl MnCl2 + Cl2 + KCl (acidic media)

1.
Answer:

2 KMnO4 + 16 HCl 2 MnCl2 + 5 Cl2 + 2 KCl + 8 H2O

MnO4- + I- MnO2 + IO3- (basic media)

2.
Answer:

2 MnO4- + I- + H2O 2 MnO2 + IO3- + 2 OH-

Method 2: Ion-electron method

1.

Divide the given reaction into 2 half-reactions

Ex.

Fe2+ + Cr2O72- Fe3+ + Cr3+ (acidic)

Half-rxn 1: Fe2+ Fe3+

Half-rxn 2: Cr2O72- Cr3+
2.

Balance the number of atoms on both sides. For discrepancies with O and H
atoms, use the following guidelines below:
For acidic solutions: Add H2O for every O deficiency, then counter balance with
H+ ions on the other side
For basic solution: Balance as with acidic solution. Afterwards, add a number of
OH- on both sides equal to the number of H+ ions added. Then cancel the H2O
from both sides.
Ex.

3.

14 H+ + Cr2O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

Balance the CHARGES for each side of the half reactions by adding the required
number of electrons (1 electron = -1)
Ex.
Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e
+2
+3 + 2(-1)
6e + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

J. Garcia 2014

Page 3

Guide to Balancing REDOX Reactions

6(-1)+14(+1)+1(-2)
4.

2(+3)+7(0)

Combine the two reactions by first multiplying the half reactions by a factor that
would make the number of electrons for both half reactions equal.
(Fe2+ Fe3+ + 1e)x6

(6e + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O)x1

6 Fe2+ 6 Fe3+ + 6e

6e + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O

6 Fe2+ + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- 6 Fe3+ + 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
5.

Check if correct by using the same parameter as those in Method 1.

Problem Set
I.

Find the oxidation number for the following atoms below.

a. S in S8
b. As in H3AsO4
c. Ag in Ag(NH3)2+ [where NH3 = 0]
d. P in P4O10
e. Sb in Sb2S5
f. S in SF6
g. Cr in K2Cr2O7
h. Al in KAlSO4
i. C in Al2(C2O4)3
j. B in BF4-

II. Balance the following reactions.

1.
___Sb(OH)3 + ___Na2AsO2 ___Sb + ___Na2AsO3 + ___H2O
Oxidizing agent: _________________
Reducing agent: _________________

2.
___HNO3 + ___Fe ___Fe(NO3)3 + ___NO + ___H2O
Oxidizing agent: _________________
Reducing agent: _________________

J. Garcia 2014

Page 4

Guide to Balancing REDOX Reactions

3.
___I2O5 + ___CO ___I2 + ___CO2
Oxidizing agent: _________________
Reducing agent: _________________

4.
___NiS + ___HCl + ___HNO3 ___NiCl2 + ___NO + ___S + ___H2O
Oxidizing agent: _________________
Reducing agent: _________________

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

ClO3- + Cl- = Cl2 + ClO2 [acidic]

H2O2 + Fe2+ = Fe3+ + H2O [acidic]
Bi(OH)3 + SnO22- = SnO32- + Bi0 [basic]
Fe2+ + MnO4- = Fe3+ + Mn2+ [acidic]
Mn2+ + H2O2 = MnO2 [basic]

J. Garcia 2014

Page 5