Balancing

OxidationReduction
AnyReactions
reaction involving the
transfer of electrons is an
oxidation-reduction (or
redox) reaction

Definitions:

Oxidation is the loss of electrons.

Reduction is the gain of electrons.
Oxidation cannot take place without
reduction.
During a redox reaction, the
oxidation numbers of reactants will
change.

For any equation to be

balanced:
1. The number of atoms of each type on
the left side of the arrow must equal
the number of atoms of each type to
the right of the arrow.
2. The total charges of all the ions on
the left side of the arrow must equal
the total charges of all the ions to
the right of the arrow.

In addition, for redox

reactions:
3. The electrons lost (during
oxidation) must equal the electrons
gained (during reduction).

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
Oxygen, in a compound or ion, is -2

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
Use the combined charges of the oxygens
in each ion or compound to determine the
oxidation number of Cr or C.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
-14

-8

-4

Use the combined charges of the oxygens

in each ion or compound to determine the
oxidation number of Cr or C.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
-14

-8

-4

The sum of the oxidation numbers of the

other element must add up to the charge
on the ion or molecule.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
+12

-14

+6 -8

+3

+4

-4

The sum of the oxidation numbers of the

other element must add up to the charge
on the ion or molecule.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
+12

+6

+3

+4

Divide the sum of the charges by the number

of atoms to get the oxidation number for
chromium and carbon in the reactants.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

1. Assign oxidation numbers to every
atom in the reaction.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
+12/2=+6

+6/2=+3

+3

+4

Divide the sum of the charges by the number

of atoms to get the oxidation number for
chromium and carbon in the reactants.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

2. Write bare bones half reactions.
Include only the atom, ion or element
that changes oxidation number.
Cr+6 + 3e- Cr+3
C+3 C+4 + 1eRemember that each half reaction must
also be balanced for charge. The total
charges on the left must equal the total
charges on the right.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

3. Take into account any subscripts in
the formulas of reactants and
products, and multiply the half
reactions accordingly.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
2[Cr+6 + 3e- Cr+3]
2[C+3 C+4 + 1e-]

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

3. Take into account any subscripts in
the formulas of reactants and
products, and multiply the half
reactions accordingly.
Cr2O72- + C2O42- Cr3+ + CO2
2Cr+6 + 6e- 2 Cr+3
2C+3 2 C+4 + 2e-

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

4. Multiply each half reaction by the
appropriate factor so that the
number of electrons lost = number
of electrons gained.
1[2Cr+6 + 6e- 2 Cr+3]
3[2C+3 2 C+4 + 2e-]

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

4. Multiply each half reaction by the
appropriate factor so that the
number of electrons lost = number
of electrons gained.
2Cr+6 + 6e- 2 Cr+3
6C+3 6 C+4 + 6e-

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

4. Add the two half reactions
together.
2Cr+6 + 6e- 2 Cr+3
6C+3 6 C+4 + 6e2Cr+6 + 6C+3 2 Cr+3 + 6 C+4

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

4. Add the two half reactions together.
2Cr+6 + 6e- 2 Cr+3
6C+3 6 C+4 + 6e2Cr+6 + 6C+3 2 Cr+3 + 6 C+4
At this point, the electrons lost = the
electrons gained during the reaction.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

5. You now have the number of each atom that
undergoes oxidation or reduction in the
balanced equation. Take any subscripts
into account when inserting coefficients.

2Cr+6 + 6C+3 2 Cr+3 + 6 C+4

Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ + 6CO2

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

6. Balance the reaction for charge, using
OH- (if in base) or H+ (if in acid).
The equation below takes place in
acid:
Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ + 6CO2
Charges: -2 + -6 = -8 (left) +6 (right)

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ + 6CO2
Charges: -2 + -6 = -8 (left) +6 (right)

Since the reaction takes place in

acid, you need to add 14 H+ to the
left side so that the charges become
equal.

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

14 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ +
6CO2
Charges on left = +6 = Charges on right

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

7. Balance for H and O by adding
water to the appropriate side of the
reaction.
14 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ + 6CO2 +
7 H2O

Balancing OxidationReduction Reactions:

8. Check the balance for all atoms in the
reaction.
14 H+ + Cr2O72- + 3C2O42- 2Cr3+ + 6CO2 + 7 H2O
Left:
14 H Right: 14 H
2 Cr 2 Cr
19 O 19 O
6C
6C

Redox Stoichiometry

Calculations involving
concentrations and redox reactions
are quite common. Many ores
containing metals are analyzed using
redox titrations. Since many
compounds change color as they are
oxidized or reduced, one of the
reactants may serve as the indicator
in the titration.

Redox Stoichiometry

The concentration of iron(II) can be

determined by titration with bromate
ion, in acid. The products are
iron(III) ion and the bromide ion.
What is the concentration of iron(II)
ion if 31.50 mL of 0.105M potassium
bromate is required to completely
react with 10.00 mL of the iron
solution.

Redox Stoichiometry

The concentration of iron(II) can be

determined by titration with bromate
ion, in acid. The products are iron(III)
ion and the bromide ion.
1.
Write the balanced chemical
reaction.
Fe2+(aq) + BrO31-(aq) Fe3+(aq) +
Br1-(aq)