When to add H+ or H20

[Bryce Ramirez 1J]

When splitting up a redox reaction into its two separate half reactions, how do you know when you would add H20 or H+ to fix the amount of hydrogens one each side of an equation?

[Selena Yu 1H]

You add H2O to balance the amount of oxygens and you do this step first. Then you add H+ to balance the amount of hydrogens.

[AniP_2D]

Its also important to note that you add H+ when the solution is acidic and OH- when the solution is basic.

[gabbymaraziti]

You add H2O to balance the oxygen, and H+ to balance the hydrogen in an acidic solution.

You add OH- to balance the oxygen, and H2O to balance the hydrogen in a basic solution.

[Jacob Motawakel]

You add H20 to balance the number of oxygens in acidic/basic solutions. You add H+ to balance the number of hydrogens in an acidic solution. You add OH- to balance the number of hydrogens in a basic solution.

[RRahimtoola1I]

This is how you balance for both:

1. determine the oxidation and reduction half reactions.
2. Balance both half reactions:
a) Balance elements other than H or O
b) Balance O elements by adding H2O molecules to match the number of O molecules you have.
c) Balance H elements by adding H+ (aq) FOR BASES: add OH- molecules to cancel all H+ molecules which will become H2O and most likely cancel with H2Os on the other side of the reaction
d) Balance the overall charge on both sides by adding electrons to the more positive side.
e) Combine both of the balanced half rxns (make sure the # of electrons in the half rxns match before you do this). Cancel any electrons or molecules that appear on both sides.

[HuyHa_2H]

For both acidic and basic solutions, you add H20 to balance the oxygens. Afterward for acidic solutions, you add H+ to balance the hydrogens; as for basic solutions, you add H20 to balance out the hydrogens but then add the same amount of OH- to the opposite side to maintain balance.

[Daria MacAuslan 1H]

If you are talking about acidic solutions (which I assume you are since you asked about H+ ions), you can just add H20 first to balance out the number of oxygens in the reaction, and then add however many H+ ions you need to balance out the hydrogens as well.

[Nicholas_Gladkov_2J]

When splitting up a redox reaction into its two separate half reactions, how do you know when you would add H20 or H+ to fix the amount of hydrogens one each side of an equation?

When you need an O to balance the reaction, you add an H2O.
When a H+ is needed, add an H+.
If the reaction is basic, you will add an equivalent amount of OH- to both sides.

[Naneeta Desar 1K]

h2o is used to balance the amounts of oxygen whereas h+ is used to balance the hydrogens.

[vanessas0123]

In acidic solution: You add H2O to balance the oxygen first, and H+ to balance the hydrogen.
In basic solution: You add OH- to balance the oxygen first, and H2O to balance the hydrogen.

[Yailin Romo 4G]

in an acidic solution you use H20 to balance it first followed by H+ ions but in a basic solution you use H20 to balance both sides.

[Jasmine W 1K]

In an acidic solution, you can use both H+ and H2O to balance the equation. In an acidic solution, You can add H2O to balance the oxygen first, and then H+ to balance the hydrogens. In a basic solution, you can add OH- to balance the oxygens and then add H2O to balance the hydrogens.

[Abigail_Hagen2G]

It really depends if the solution is acidic, basic, or neutral

[Orrin Zhong 4G]

In an acidic solution, you would balance oxygen with H2O and then balance the excess hydrogens with H+'s. In a basic solution, you would add get the acidic reaction and then add OH- on both sides to balance out the H+'s.

[ShastaB4C]

It really depends if the solution is acidic, basic, or neutral

How would you balance in a neutral solution? Like what steps would not use?

[ShastaB4C]

Also, these videos really helped me out. He goes step by step teaching how to balance redox in non-neutral solutions.https://youtu.be/IZ1tKxsqV74

[ShastaB4C]

Also, these videos really helped me out. He goes step by step teaching how to balance redox in non-neutral solutions.https://youtu.be/IZ1tKxsqV74

https://youtu.be/v5sDNmYCaqo

[Jacob Villar 2C]

H2O should be added first, since in doing so you would contribute to balancing the hydrogens and oxygens first. Then, add H+ to balance out the rest of the hydrogens in the acidic solution.

[kristi le 2F]

Also, remember to use H+ and H2O to balance acidic solutions and OH- and H2O to balance basic solutions.