Steps to Balance a Basic Solution

[Radha Patel 4I]

What steps do we need to know in order to balance a basic solution with its half reactions. How does it differ from balancing an acidic solution ?

[Hui Qiao Wu 1I]

In basic solution:

1. Identify what is being reduced and oxidized
2.Balance half-reactions by:
a. balance elements other than oxygen and hydrogen
b. balance the oxygens by adding H2O
c. balance the hydrogens by adding H+
d. cancel H+ by adding OH-
e. balance the charge of each reaction by adding electrons
3. Combine the half-reactions

In acidic solution:

Everything is the same as the steps in basic solution except that there is no step 2d.

[VPatankar_2L]

For an acidic solution, if there are more Oxygen atoms in the reactions you would add H3O+ to supply more H+. For a basic solution, if there are more Oxygen atoms in the reactants you would add H2O to supply more H+.