Oxidation Rules

Question 1

Step 1

Answer 1

Write the two half-reactions representing the redox process.

Question 2

Step 2

Answer 2

Balance all elements except oxygen and hydrogen.

Question 3

Step 3

Answer 3

Balance oxygen atoms by adding H2O molecules.

Question 4

Step 4

Answer 4

Balance hydrogen atoms by adding H+ ions.

Question 5

Step 5

Answer 5

Balance charge by adding electrons.

Question 6

Step 6

Answer 6

If necessary, multiply each half-reaction’s coefficients by the smallest possible integers to yield equal numbers of electrons in each.

Question 7

Step 7

Answer 7

Add the balanced half-reactions together and simplify by removing species that appear on both sides of the equation.

Question 8

Step 8A

Answer 8

Add OH- ions to both sides of the equation in numbers equal to the number of H+ ions.

Question 9

Step 8B

Answer 9

On the side of the equation containing both H+ and OH- ions, combine these ions to yield water molecules.

Question 10

Step 8C

Answer 10

Simplify the equation by removing any redundant water molecules.

Question 11

Step 9

Answer 11

Check to see that both the number of atoms and the total charges are balanced.