Were Given: NaBr(aq) + NaClO(aq) > Br2(l) + NaCl(aq) + H2O.

From here, we determine the oxidation and reduction half reactions.

Oxidation Half Reaction: Br(-) > Br2 (rxn. 1).
Note: Br(-) has an oxidation state of -1. Br2 has an oxidation state of 0. Thus we go from -1 to 0 or lose a
negative charge. Mathematically we have: -1 minus a negative charge = -1 - (-1) = -1 + 1 = 0. Remember
that the negative charge is the electron that is lost, which is what makes this the oxidation step of the
overall reaction (loss of an electron).
Reduction Half Reaction: ClO(-) > Cl(-) (rxn. 2).
Note: The Cl atom in ClO(-) has an oxidation number of +1. So it goes from +1 to -1 (it gains electrons,
which have a negative charge). Thus, the Cl atom becomes more negative because the charge on it
goes from a positive value (as in ClO(-)) to a negative value (as in Cl(-)).
Note that for the oxidation and reduction half reactions, we do not include Na+, which was in the
original equation given to us. That is because it is a spectator ion, and does not really change form
throughout the reaction.
After Finding the Oxidation and Reduction Reactions, Balance them by Following these Steps: Note that
the oxidation and reductions are each individually called half reactions.
STEPS:
I. Balance the atoms other than O and H.
II. Balance the oxygens by adding H2O.
III. Balance the hydrogens by adding H+.
IV. Balance the charges by adding electrons.
V. Make the number of electrons equal, and add the half reactions.
Following the Steps:
Step I: Balance the Atoms other than O and H.
Br(-) > Br2 becomes 2Br(-) > Br2 (new rxn. 1).
ClO(-) > Cl(-) (rxn. 2) stays the same.
Step II: Balance the Oxygens by adding H2O.
2Br(-) > Br2 (rxn. 1) stays the same.
ClO(-) > Cl(-) + becomes ClO(-) > Cl(-) + H2O(new rxn. 2).
Step III: Balance the hydrogens for the reactions from step II by adding H+ where needed.
We have no hydrogens to deal with for reaction 1. However, we added a H2O for reaction 2 on the right
side in step II. Thus we need to add hydrogens on the left side too so both sides of reaction 2 stay the
same:
2Br(-) > Br2 (rxn. 1) stays the same.
ClO(-) > Cl(-) + H2O becomes 2H(+) + ClO(-) > Cl(-) + H2O (rxn. 2).
Step IV: Balance the Charges On Either Side by Adding Electrons.

Looking at rxn. 1, we see that we start out with -2 on the left side (because of 2Br(-) on the left side) and
end up with +0 on the right side (because Br2 has an oxidation state of 0). Thus, we lose 2 electrons from
the left side, and gain two electrons on the right side (because were basically saying this reaction forms
products and gives up two electrons). Similarly, for the second reaction, on the left side we have +1
oxidation state for Cl, -2 oxidation state for O, and +2 oxidation state for H to give an overall +1
oxidation state on the left side. On the right side of reaction two, we have -1 from the Cl, and an overall
0 for H2O. Thus, for reaction two, we are going from +1 to -1, or gaining two electrons. This goes on the
left side because the left side reactants are gaining the electrons to make the right side products.
New Rxn. 1: 2Br(-) > Br2 + 2e(-).
New Rxn. 2: 2H(+) + ClO(-) + 2e(-) > Cl(-) + H2O.
Step V: Make the Number of Electrons Equal, and Add the Half Reactions.
Because the number of electrons on the left side of reaction 1 (two electrons) and on the right side of
reaction 2 (two electrons) are already equal, we dont need to multiply to make them equal this time. All
we need to do now is add the half reactions!
Result of Adding the Half Reactions:
2H(+) + 2Br(-) + ClO(-) > Br2 + Cl(-) + H2O (THIS IS OUR BALANCED NET IONIC EQUATION!).
OVERVIEW OF WHATS GOING ON REACTION WISE BASED ON BALANCED EQ ABOVE:
Overall Reaction: 2HOAc + 2NaBr + NaClO > Br2 + NaCl + 2NaOAc + H2O.
Ionic Form of Overall Reaction:
2H(+) + 2OAc(-) + 2Na(+) + 2Br(-) + Na(+) + ClO(-) > Br2 + Na(+) + Cl(-) + 2Na(+) + 2OAc(-) + H2O.

Net Ionic Form of Overall Reaction: 2H(+) + 2Br(-) + ClO(-) > Br2 + Cl(-) + H2O.
Note: This is the reaction when we cancel out all spectator ions on both sides.
DONE!