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Ionelec

The document describes a 6 step method for balancing redox equations called the ion-electron method. The steps are to separate the equation into half reactions, balance each half reaction, balance the charge by adding electrons, multiply the half reactions so electrons cancel out, add the half reactions together, and check the balance of the overall equation.

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Jann Paulo Mendoza
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10 views

Ionelec

The document describes a 6 step method for balancing redox equations called the ion-electron method. The steps are to separate the equation into half reactions, balance each half reaction, balance the charge by adding electrons, multiply the half reactions so electrons cancel out, add the half reactions together, and check the balance of the overall equation.

Uploaded by

Jann Paulo Mendoza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BALANCING REDOX EQUATIONS BY

THE ION-ELECTRON METHOD

1. Separate the skeletal equation into two half reactions. Each half
reaction refers to the conversion of a species in either its oxidized or
reduced form into a related species in either its reduced or oxidized
form. One half reaction will be a reduction and the other will be an
oxidation.

2. Balance each half reaction separately. Balance atoms on each side


of a half reaction by inspection, using H2O, H+ (if in acid), or OH- (if
in base) to make the balance in hydrogen and/or oxygen, if needed.
Do not add any other new species (e.g., O2, H2) unless already a part
of the skeletal half reaction.

3. Balance the net charge across each half reaction by adding


electrons to the side with the more positive net ionic charge. If by
this process electrons are added on the left side of a half reaction, the
half reaction is a reduction. If electrons are added to the right side, the
half reaction is an oxidation. (If you add electrons to the same side in
both half reactions, something is wrong!)

4. Multiply both half-reactions by appropriate factors (usually


whole numbers), so that the number of electrons is the same in
both half reactions and will cancel when the two are added
together.

5. Add the two multiplied half reactions together to obtain the


overall redox equation.

6. Check the balance. No electrons should appear in the overall redox


equation. Not only should there be a balance in atoms across the
equation, but also the net charge on both sides of the equation should
be equal.

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