Redox

[Vincent Tran 3B]

Why do redox reactions often require balancing both mass and charge, and how can you use the half-reaction method to balance redox reactions in acidic or basic solutions?

[Caley Ortiz 2L]

In response to the second part of your question, here are the steps that I use to balance redox reactions in acidic and basic solutions.

Acidic:
1. find half reactions using oxidation states
2. balance non hydrogen and oxygen atoms
3. balance oxygen with H2O
4. balance H with H+
5. balance net charge with electrons

Basic:
1. find half reactions using oxidation states
2. balance non hydrogen and oxygen atoms
3. balance oxygen with H2O
4. balance H with the number of H2O molecules equal to the number of H needed
5. add same amount of OH molecules to other side
6. balance net charge with electrons

[Damin Rawlins 3B]

Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons and often require balancing both mass and charge. The half-reaction method is used to balance redox reactions by first balancing the oxidation and reduction half-reactions separately, and then combining them to obtain a balanced overall equation. In acidic solutions, H2O and H+ ions are added to balance the half-reactions, while in basic solutions, OH- ions are added in addition to H2O and H+ ions to neutralize excess H+ ions.