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