AP Chemistry - Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

The following ReDox reaction takes place in acidic solution:

Fe2+ + Cr2O72– → Fe3+ + Cr3+

What is the sum of coefficients in this redox reaction?

Explanation

When you balance the redox reaction in acidic conditons, there are 6Fe2+, 1 Cr2O72–, 14 H+, 6 Fe3+, 2 Cr3+, and 7 H2O. Don't forget to add the 1 in front of the Cr2O72–

How many electrons are involved in the following reaction?

$MnO_4^-+ I^-\rightarrow I_2+Mn^{2+}$

1 e-

2 e-

4 e-

5 e-

10 e-

Explanation

The common factor between 2 e- and 5 e- is 10. Therefore the number of electrons involved is 10 e-.

How many electrons are involved in the following reaction?

$MnO_4^-+ Fe^{2+} \rightarrow Fe^{3+}+Mn^{2+}$

5 e-

4 e-

3 e-

2 e-

1 e-

Explanation

The common factor between 1 e- and 5 e- is 5. Therefore the number of electrons involved is 5 e-.

What is the balanced coefficient on OH- for the following reaction:

$Br^- + MnO_4^- \rightarrow MnO_2 + BrO_3^-$ (under basic conditions)

Explanation

Add them together:

$3 H_2 O + Br^- + 2 MnO_4^- + 8 H^+ + 6 e^- \rightarrow 2 MnO_2 + BrO_3^- + 6 H^+ + 4 H_2 O + 6 e^-$

Simplify:

$Br^- + 2 MnO_4^- + 2 H^+ \rightarrow 2 MnO_2 + BrO_3^- + H_2 O$

Add Hydroxides to each side to counter H+.

$Br^- + 2 MnO_4^- + 2 H_2 O \rightarrow 2 MnO_2 + BrO_3^- + H_2 O+2 OH^-$

Simplify:

$Br^- + 2 MnO_4^- + H_2 O \rightarrow 2 MnO_2 + BrO_3^- +2 OH^-$

What is the sum of all the balanced coefficients in the following reaction:

$O_2 + Sb \rightarrow H_2 O_2 + SbO_2^-$ (basic conditions)

Explanation

Add the equations together

$2Sb+4H_2 O + 3 O_2 + 6 H^+ + 6e^- \rightarrow 2SbO_2^-+8H^++3 H_2 O_2 + 6e^-$

Simplify

$2Sb+4H_2 O+3 O_2 \rightarrow 2SbO_2^-+2H^++3H_2 O_2$

Add 2 OH- to each side to cancel out the H+.

$2Sb+4H_2 O+3 O_2 + 2 OH^- \rightarrow 2SbO_2^-+2H_2 O+3H_2 O_2$

Simplify:

$2Sb+2 H_2 O+3 O_2 + 2 OH^- \rightarrow 2SbO_2^-+3H_2 O_2$

For the following unbalanced redox reaction, how many electrons are transferred and which chemical species is being oxidized?

$PF_2I_{(l)}+Hg_{(l)}\rightarrow P_2F_4_{(g)}+Hg_2I_2_{(s)}$

Two electrons are transferred; Hg is oxidized

Two electrons are transferred; P is oxidized

One electron is transferred; Hg is oxidized

One electron is transferred; P is oxidized

Explanation

To begin, we will need to separate the given reaction into the two half-reactions by identifying changes in oxidation number. In this case, mercury (Hg) and phosphorus (P) show a change in oxidation number. Mercury begins with an oxidation number of zero, and ends with an oxidation number of . Phosphorus begins with an oxidation number of and ends with an oxidation number of . Note that the oxidation numbers for fluorine and iodine reamain constant at for each.

Now we can begin to look at the half-reactions.

$PF_2I_{(l)}\rightarrow P_2F_4_{(g)}$

$Hg_{(l)}\rightarrow Hg_2I_2_{(s)}$

Balance the atoms.

$2PF_2I_{(l)}\rightarrow P_2F_4_{(g)}$

$2Hg_{(l)}\rightarrow Hg_2I_2_{(s)}$

Now balance the electrons. We know that each mercury atom loses one electron and each fluorine atom gains one electron.

$2PF_2I_{(l)}+2e^-\rightarrow P_2F_4_{(g)}$

$2Hg \rightarrow Hg_2I_2_{(s)}+2e^{-}$

We can see that two electrons are tranferred. To identify the element being oxidized, we must find the element that is losing electrons. In this case, mercury is being oxidized.

Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

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