Balanced Half Reactions

[Ashley Kenney 1E]

Do the balanced half reactions include the stoichiometric coefficients to make the number of electrons in the oxidation and reduction halves equal, or is a balanced half reaction only referring to the individual half reaction without consideration for the other half? Do we only multiply by coefficients to create balanced overall reactions? Thank you in advance!

[Aidan Ryan 1B]

Today in lecture I think he said balanced half reaction includes the balancing with e- being equal.

[timothy_ho_4B]

I'm pretty sure balanced half reactions would be only considering the atoms and charge of that half reaction, so it would include balancing oxygens and hydrogens by using water and H+ or OH-. But I think balancing the charge between a reduction and oxidation reactions is for the overall reaction, and not for a half reaction.

[Catly Do 2E]

First, focus on balancing the reactants and products of each half reaction. Next, to get the overall reaction, add the two half-reactions together. At this step, you would multiply a factor to a half reaction if needed so that electrons/spectators are canceled as needed for the overall rxn.

[SydBenedict2H]

I think you want to balance the atoms, charge, and number of electrons all because its still a half reaction until you put it all together for the final reaction.

[Salena Chowdri 1I]

you will need to balance the number of ions and electrons for each half reaction and then to combine them and get an overall reaction you will need to balance both half equations to have the same number of electrons.