Balancing Redox Reactions By Half Cell

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There are two ways to balance an Oxidation Reduction (Redox) reaction.


A benefit for balancing by Half cell, one does not need all the species in the Redox reaction since you will generating the overall reaction as you performing the balancing. The procedures are as follows:
Balancing Redox Reaction by Half Cell Method (In acid solution)


1. Break equation into two half cell.
2. Then for each half cell, do the following:
2a. Balance atoms (except for Oxygen and hydrogen))
2b. Balance O with H2O1
2c. Balance H with H1+
2d. Balance charge with add e-
3. Balance electron by multiple whole half cell by a coefficient so that the total number of electron gained is lost in each half cell
4. Write half cell together and add them together to get overall reaction.
Balancing Redox Reaction by Half Cell (In Basic Solution)

1. You will complete Step 1 - 4 above
2. Add as many OH1- to each side to remove any H1+ 3. Any H1+ and OH<sup>1- on same side of --> combine to form H2O
4. Balance both side of the overall reaction by H2O
5. Rewrite as overall reaction

Example of Work (does not show in basic solution example)



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Last edited February 7, 2020 2:18 pm (diff)
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