Basic Solutions

[melissa_dis4K]

For basic solutions, how do you know what side to add the OH- on? Is there a guide to how to balance basic solutions in the textbook? Thanks! I really appreciate it.

[Mya Majewski 1L]

In the textbook they give examples how to balance acidic and basic solutions within the electrochemistry chapter

[Tuong-Minh Tran 1C]

For basic solutions, you generally want to place the OH- where there are less O atoms.

If you want to look for further clarification and have the 7th edition of the textbook, check out pages 541-543 and look at Example 6K.2.

[Meigan Wu 2E]

For basic solutions, you first balance the O by using H2O. Then, you balance H by adding H2O to the side of the half reaction that needs H and adding OH- to the other side.

[A De Castro 14B 2H]

In basic solutions, the OH^- ions tend to be on the reactants side in the oxidation half-reaction. Then, the OH^- ions tend to be on the products side in the reduction half-reaction.

[varunhariharan]

For basic solutions, H2O is used to balance the hydrogens. Then, when balancing oxygens, OH- should be added, and then H2O may need to be added again if the Hydrogens become unbalanced due to the addition of OH-.