Balancing+Redox+Reactions

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-balance-redox-equations.html

1. Convert the unbalanced redox reaction to the ionic form.



2a. If necessary, assign oxidation numbers and show the chemical species whose oxidation numbers have changed.

2b. Write two half-reactions.



3. Balance the atoms, except for oxygen and hydrogen, which should be balanced at the end.

4. Balance the oxygen atoms

5. Balance the hydrogen atoms.

6. Add electrons to the half-reactions to balance the ionic charge.

7. Balance electron loss with electron gain between the two half-reactions.

8. Add the two half-reactions together, and cancel anything common to both sides... There should always be the same number of electrons on each side

9. Convert the equation back to molecular form by adding the spectator ions back in.

10. Make sure all atoms and charges are balanced, and the coefficients are in the lowest whole-number form.

Ben Raver <3 and Derek Wisner

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-balance-redox-equations.html