PPT Slide

Half-reaction method for balancing redox reactions

This method divides the overall redox reaction into oxidation and reduction half-reactions.

• Each reaction is balanced for mass (atoms) and charge.

• One or both are multiplied by an integer to make the number of electrons gained and lost equal.

• The half-reactions are recombined to give the balanced redox equation.

Advantages

• The separation of half-reactions reflects the actual physical separations in electrochemical cells.

• The half-reactions are easier to balance, especially if they involve acid or base.

• It is usually unnecessary to assign oxidation numbers to those species not undergoing change.

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