Oxidation Method

Balancing Basic Redox Reactions Balance as if it was acidic, and then add OH- to both sides to neutralize H+ (converting it to H2O) Split Skeletal Eq. into 1/2 Reactions For Each Hal- Reaction Balance all Elements Except O and H Balance O by adding water Balance H by adding H+. Balance Charge by adding e-. Multiply 1/2 rxns by appropriate integer so electrons lost = electrons gained. Add half-reactions, cancelling electrons lost and gained, and check work Add OH- to both sides to neutralize H+ (converting it to H2O) (only the last step is different from balancing acidic reactions)

Balancing Acidic Redox Reactions The following steps allow you to balance a redox reaction and you often do not even have to identify the oxidation state of the various species. Split Skeletal Eq. into 1/2 Reactions For Each Half-Reaction Balance all Elements Except O and H Balance O by adding water Balance H by adding H+. Balance Charge by adding e-. Multiply 1/2 rxns by appropriate integer so electrons lost = electrons gained. Add half-reactions, cancelling electrons lost and gained, and check work

oxidationreduction=loss of electrons=gain of electrons

a basic type of chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons from one atom or chemical entity to another, or more accurately, from one type of orbital to another, that results in new bonds being formed