Chemistry 1
Volume 4
Worksheet 20
Balancing Redox Reactions in Acidic Solution
Ion/Electron Method
Part 5
1
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Rules for balancing redox reactions in acidic solution:
1. Write the net ionic equation.
2. Write half-reactions.
3. Balance atoms other than hydrogen and oxygen.
4. Balance oxygen by adding H2O.
5. Balance H by adding H+.
6. Balance the charges by adding e-.
a. Add up the total charge on each side.
b. Add electrons to the more positive side to balance the charge on both sides.
7. Multiply to balance the electrons gained/lost between the two half-reactions and add
reactions together.
8. Cancel common species on both sides of the reaction.
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1. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
NO + H5IO6 à NO3- + IO3-
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2. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
Cr2O72- + C2H6O à Cr3+ + C2H4O
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3. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
CH3CHO + MnO4- à Mn2+ + CH3COOH
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4. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
O2- + F2 à O2 + F-
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5. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
PbO2 + I2 à Pb2+ + IO3-
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Answer Key
1. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
NO + H5IO6 à NO3- + IO3-
Step 1:
The net ionic equation is already written, so we can go to rule 2.
Step 2:
Break into half-reactions.
NO à NO3-
H5IO6 à IO3-
Step 3:
All elements other than O or H are already balanced.
NO à NO3-
H5IO6 à IO3-
Step 4:
Balance O by adding H2O.
2 H2O + NO à NO3-
H5IO6 à IO3- + 3 H2O
Step 5:
Balance H by adding H+.
2 H2O + NO à NO3- + 4 H+
H+ + H5IO6 à IO3- + 3 H2O
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Step 6:
Balance charges by adding e-.
2 H2O + NO à NO3- + 4 H+ + 3 e-
2 e- + H+ + H5IO6 à IO3- + 3 H2O
Step 7:
Multiply the half-reactions in order to balance electrons and add them together.
2 x [ 2 H2O + NO à NO3- + 4 H+ + 3 e- ]
3 x [ 2 e- + H+ + H5IO6 à IO3- + 3 H2O ]
6 e- + 3 H+ + 3 H5IO6 + 4 H2O + 2 NO à 2 NO3- + 8 H+ + 6 e- + 3 IO3- + 9 H2O
Step 8:
Cancel common species.
6 e- + 3 H+ + 3 H5IO6 + 4 H2O + 2 NO à 2 NO3- + 5 8 H+ + 6 e- + 3 IO3- + 5 9 H2O
Now is a good time to make sure all elements and charges are balanced.
3 H5IO6 + 2 NO à 2 NO3- + 5 H++ 3 IO3- + 5 H2O
Reactants Products
H 15 H 15
I 3 I 3
O 20 O 20
N 2 N 2
Charge 0 Charge 0
Everything is balanced!
Correct answer:
3 H5IO6 + 2 NO à 2 NO3- + 5 H++ 3 IO3- + 5 H2O
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2. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
Cr2O72- + C2H6O à Cr3+ + C2H4O
Step 1:
The net ionic equation is already written, so we can go to rule 2.
Step 2:
Break into half-reactions.
C 2 H6 O à C 2 H4 O
Cr2O72- à Cr3+
Step 3:
Balance all elements other than O or H.
C 2 H6 O à C 2 H4 O
Cr2O72- à 2 Cr3+
Step 4:
Balance O by adding H2O.
C 2 H6 O à C 2 H4 O
Cr2O72- à 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Step 5:
Balance H by adding H+.
C 2 H6 O à C 2 H4 O + 2 H +
14 H+ + Cr2O72- à 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Step 6:
Balance charges by adding e-.
C2H6O à C2H4O + 2 H+ + 2 e-
6 e- + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- à 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
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Step 7:
Multiply the half-reactions in order to balance electrons and add them together.
3 x [ C2H6O à C2H4O + 2 H+ + 2 e- ]
6 e- + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- à 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
6 e- + 14 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3 C2H6O à 3 C2H4O + 6 H+ + 6 e- + 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Step 8:
Cancel common species.
6 e- + 8 14 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3 C2H6O à 3 C2H4O + 6 H+ + 6 e- + 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Make sure all elements and charges are balanced.
8 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3 C2H6O à 3 C2H4O + 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
Reactants Products
H 26 H 26
Cr 2 Cr 2
O 10 O 10
C 6 C 6
Charge +6 Charge +6
Everything is balanced!
Correct answer:
8 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3 C2H6O à 3 C2H4O + 2 Cr3+ + 7 H2O
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3. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
CH3CHO + MnO4- à Mn2+ + CH3COOH
Step 1:
The net ionic equation is already written, so we can go to rule 2.
Step 2:
Break into half-reactions.
CH3CHO à CH3COOH
MnO4- à Mn2+
Step 3:
All elements other than O or H are already balanced.
CH3CHO à CH3COOH
MnO4- à Mn2+
Step 4:
Balance O by adding H2O.
H2O + CH3CHO à CH3COOH
MnO4- à Mn2+ + 4 H2O
Step 5:
Balance H by adding H+.
H2O + CH3CHO à CH3COOH + 2 H+
8 H+ + MnO4- à Mn2+ + 4 H2O
Step 6:
Balance charges by adding e-.
H2O + CH3CHO à CH3COOH + 2 H+ + 2 e-
5 e- + 8 H+ + MnO4- à Mn2+ + 4 H2O
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Step 7:
Multiply the half-reactions in order to balance electrons and add them together.
5 x [ H2O + CH3CHO à CH3COOH + 2 H+ + 2 e- ]
2 x [ 5 e- + 8 H+ + MnO4- à Mn2+ + 4 H2O ]
10 e- + 16 H+ + 2 MnO4- + 5 H2O + 5 CH3CHO à 5 CH3COOH + 10 H+ + 10 e- + 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O
Step 8:
Cancel common species.
10 e- + 6 16 H+ + 2 MnO4- + 5 H2O + 5 CH3CHO à 5 CH3COOH + 10 H+ + 10 e- + 2 Mn2+ + 3 8 H2O
Make sure all elements and charges are balanced.
6 H+ + 2 MnO4- + 5 CH3CHO à 5 CH3COOH + 2 Mn2+ + 3 H2O
Reactants Products
H 26 H 26
Mn 2 Mn 2
O 13 O 13
C 10 C 10
Charge +4 Charge +4
Everything is balanced!
Correct answer:
6 H+ + 2 MnO4- + 5 CH3CHO à 5 CH3COOH + 2 Mn2+ + 3 H2O
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4. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
O2- + F2 à O2 + F-
Step 1:
The net ionic equation is already written, so we can go to rule 2.
Step 2:
Break into half-reactions.
O2- à O2
F2 à F-
Step 3:
Balance all elements other than O or H.
O2- à O2
F2 à 2 F -
Step 4:
Balance O by adding H2O.
H2O + O2- à O2
F2 à 2 F -
Step 5:
Balance H by adding H+.
H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+
F2 à 2 F -
Step 6:
Balance charges by adding e-.
H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 e-
2 e- + F2 à 2 F-
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Step 7:
Multiply the half-reactions in order to balance electrons and add them together.
H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 e-
2 x [ 2 e- + F2 à 2 F- ]
4 e- + 2 F2 + H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 e- + 4 F-
Step 8:
Cancel common species.
4 e- + 2 F2 + H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 e- + 4 F-
Make sure all elements and charges are balanced.
2 F2 + H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 F-
Reactants Products
F 4 F 4
H 2 H 2
O 2 O 2
Charge -2 Charge -2
Everything is balanced!
Correct answer:
2 F2 + H2O + O2- à O2 + 2 H+ + 4 F-
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5. Balance the redox reaction below that is in acidic solution:
PbO2 + I2 à Pb2+ + IO3-
Step 1:
The net ionic equation is already written, so we can go to rule 2.
Step 2:
Break into half-reactions.
PbO2 à Pb2+
I2 à IO3-
Step 3:
Balance all elements other than O or H.
PbO2 à Pb2+
I2 à 2 IO3-
Step 4:
Balance O by adding H2O.
PbO2 à Pb2+ + 2 H2O
6 H2O + I2 à 2 IO3-
Step 5:
Balance H by adding H+.
4 H+ + PbO2 à Pb2+ + 2 H2O
6 H2O + I2 à 2 IO3- + 12 H+
Step 6:
Balance charges by adding e-.
2 e- + 4 H+ + PbO2 à Pb2+ + 2 H2O
6 H2O + I2 à 2 IO3- + 12 H+ + 10 e-
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Step 7:
Multiply the half-reactions in order to balance electrons and add them together.
5 x [ 2 e- + 4 H+ + PbO2 à Pb2+ + 2 H2O ]
6 H2O + I2 à 2 IO3- + 12 H+ + 10 e-
6 H2O + I2 + 10 e- + 20 H+ + 5 PbO2 à 5 Pb2+ + 10 H2O + 2 IO3- + 12 H+ + 10 e-
Step 8:
Cancel common species.
6 H2O + I2 + 10 e- + 8 20 H+ + 5 PbO2 à 5 Pb2+ + 4 10 H2O + 2 IO3- + 12 H+ + 10 e-
Make sure all elements and charges are balanced.
I2 + 8 H+ + 5 PbO2 à 5 Pb2+ + 4 H2O + 2 IO3-
Reactants Products
I 2 I 2
H 8 H 8
Pb 5 Pb 5
O 10 O 10
Charge +8 Charge +8
Everything is balanced!
Correct answer:
I2 + 8 H+ + 5 PbO2 à 5 Pb2+ + 4 H2O + 2 IO3-
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