Balancing Redox Reactions (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

**Redox Reactions are the reaction in which oxidation and reduction occur in the same reaction. Balancing redox reactions is the process in which we balance redox reaction equations using various methods. There are generally two methods that are used to balance redox reactions that include,

Balancing redox reactions is very important because redox reactions are observed all around us and having the knowledge of balancing redox reactions helps us to achieve various things in our daily life. Before starting with balancing the redox reaction we have to first know what Redox Reactions are, Oxidation and Reduction reactions, and Balancing Redox reactions using the Oxidation Number method and Ion-Electron method, their examples, and others in detail.

Redox Reaction

The term "Redox Reaction" refers to a reaction in which both oxidation and reduction occur at the same time. So to learn more about Redox Reaction first learn about Oxidation and Reduction reaction.

**What is Oxidation?

**For Example, **2Cu + O 2 → 2CuO

In this reaction, oxygen is added to copper. Therefore, copper is **Oxidized.

**What is Reduction?

**For Example: CuO + H 2 → Cu + H 2 O

In this reaction, Oxygen is removed from copper oxide. Therefore, copper oxide (CuO) is **Reduced.

The gain of electrons is known as reduction, and the loss of electrons is known as oxidation. The redox reaction refers to the combination of reduction and oxidation reactions. In a redox reaction, there are two methods for balancing redox reactions. The Oxidation Number Method and the Half-Reaction Method.

Balancing of Redox Reactions

Chemical equations for redox processes are balanced using two ways. One technique is based on the oxidation number of the reducing and oxidizing agents changing, while the other method is based on splitting the redox reaction into two half-reactions, one involving oxidation and the other involving reduction. Both of these ways are in use, and it is up to the individual who uses them to decide which one to utilize.

Two methods are used to balance the redox reaction are,

Now let's learn about them in detail.

**Oxidation Number Method

The composition and formulas for the reactants and products must be known when creating equations for oxidation-reduction processes. The oxidation number method is best demonstrated in the steps that follow:

While balancing redox reacction we need to be aware about the medium of the reaction. There are two mediums in which redox reaction are present, Acidic Medium and Basic Medium.

**Steps to Balance Redox Reaction in Acidic Medium by Oxidation Number Method

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atoms that change oxidation number during the reaction.

**How to Find Oxidation Number?

The oxidation number for some common elements are given in the table below:

**Elements **Oxidation State **Exceptions
Group 1 Metals Always +1
Group 2 Metals Always +2
Fluorine Always -1
Oxygen Mostly -2 Peroxides and F2O
Hydrogen Mostly +1 Metal hydrides (-1)
Chlorine Mostly -1 Compounds with O or F

**Examples: **Find oxidation numbers of,

2(x) + 7(-2) = -2, (Here, x is O.N. of Cu and -2 is O.N. of O)

2x - 14 = -2

2x = -2 + 14

x = 6 (Oxidation number of Cr)

3(+1) + (x) + 3(-2) = 0

3 + x - 6 = 0

x = +3 (Oxidation number of P)

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Step 3: After balancing atoms that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

**Step 4: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen.

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

Let us use the example below to explain the steps involved in the method.

**Example: Balance the Redox Reaction.

**P + HNO 3 → HPO 3 + NO + H 2 O

**Solution:

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atoms that change oxidation number during the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-3

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Oxidation: P → HPO3

**Reduction: HNO3 → NO

**Step 3: After balancing atoms that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

**P + HNO 3 → HPO 3 + NO + H 2 O

There is an increase in the O.N. of P from 0 to +5 which is an increase of 5 in O.N. and there is a decrease in the O.N. of N from +5 to +2 which is a decrease of 3 in O.N.

**Cross multiplication: 3P + 5HNO 3 → 3HPO 3 + 5NO + H 2 O

**Step 4: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

**3P + 5HNO 3 → 3HPO 3 + 5NO + H 2 O

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen.

**3P + 5HNO 3 → 3HPO 3 + 5NO + H 2 O

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

**3P + 5HNO 3 → 3HPO 3 + 5NO + H 2 O

Hence, the equation is balanced.

Steps to Balance the Redox Reaction in Basic Medium by Oxidation Number Method

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atoms that change oxidation number during the reaction.

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Step 3: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

**Step 4: After balancing atoms that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen.

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

**Step 7: Add as many OH- ions on both sides as a number of H+ ions on one side.

Let us use the example below to explain the steps involved in the method.

**Example: Balance the Redox Reaction in Basic Medium by Oxidation Number Method.

**Cl 2 + IO 3 - + OH - → IO 4 - + Cl - + H 2 O

**Solution:

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atoms that change oxidation number during the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-4

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Oxidation: IO3- → IO4-

**Reduction: Cl2 → Cl-

**Step 3: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

Cl2 + IO3- + OH → IO4- + 2Cl- + H2O

**Step 4: After balancing atoms that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

Cl2 + IO3- +OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + H2O

There is an increase in the O.N. of I from +5 to +7whicht is an increase of 2 in O.N. and there is a decrease in the O.N. of Cl from 0 to -2 that is a decrease of 2 in O.N.

Cancel difference of (2) from each other

Cl2 + IO3- + OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + H2O

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen

Cl2 + IO3- + H2O → IO4- + 2Cl-

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

Cl2 + IO3- + H2O → IO4- + 2Cl- + 2H+

**Step 7: Add as many OH- ions on both sides as the number of H+ ions on one side.

Cl2 + IO3- + H2O + 2OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + 2H+ + 2OH-

Cl2 + IO3- + H2O + 2OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + 2H2O

Cl2 + IO3- + 2OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + (2H2O - H2O)

Cl2 + IO3- + 2OH- → IO4- + 2Cl- + H2O

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Half Reaction Method (Ion Electron Method)

Half Reaction Method or Ion Electron Method uses two individual half reaction one of oxidation and other reduction. The two half equations are balanced individually and then combined to create a balanced redox reaction. There are two mediums in which these reactions are carried out,

**Steps to Balance Redox Reaction in Acidic Medium by Half Reaction Method:

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Step 3: Break the reaction into two halves.

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the half-reaction. If necessary, multiply one or both half-reactions by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the two half-reactions.

**Step 6: To get the overall reaction, we combine the two half-reactions and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

**Step 7: Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

**Example: Balance the Redox Reaction in Acidic Medium by Half Reaction Method.

**Cr 2 O 7 2- (aq) + HNO 2 (aq) → Cr 3+ (aq) + NO 3 - (aq)

**Solution:

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-5

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Oxidation: HNO2(aq) → NO3-(aq)

**Reduction: Cr2O72-(aq) → Cr3+(aq)

**Step 3: Break the reaction into two halves.

Reduction Half,

Cr2O72-(aq) → Cr3+(aq)

Oxidation Half,

HNO2(aq) → NO3-(aq)

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction.

(In 1st reaction, there are 2 moles of Cr on the n left side so we have to take molecule of Cr on the n right side.)

Cr2O72-(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq)

(In 2nd reaction),

HNO2(aq) → NO3-(aq)

Cr2O72-(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq)

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq) + 3H+(aq)

**In 1 st reaction,

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

**LHS: (2-) + (14+) = (12+) charges

**RHS: 2(3+) = (6+) charges

Therefore,

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

**In 2 nd reaction,

HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq) + 3H+(aq)

**LHS: No charges

**RHS: (1-) + (3+) = (2+) charges

Therefore,

HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq) + 3H+(aq) + 2e-

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the half-reaction. If necessary, multiply one or behalf-reactions by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the half-reactions.

Here, 6 electrons in 1st reaction and 2 electrons in 2nd reaction. so we multiply

1st reaction,

Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6e- → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

2nd reaction,

HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq) + 3H+(aq) + 2e-

3( HNO2(aq) + H2O(l) → NO3-(aq) + 3H+(aq) + 2e-)

3HNO2(aq) + 3H2O(l) → 3NO3-(aq) + 9H+(aq) + 6e-

**Step 6: To get the overall reaction, we combine the two half-reactions and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

Cr2O72-(aq) + 5H+(aq) + 3HNO2(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 3NO3-(aq)

**Step 7: Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Steps to Balance Redox Reaction in Basic Medium by Half Reaction Method

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Step 3: Break the reaction into two halves.

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction.

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the half-reaction. If necessary, multiply one or both half-reactions by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the two half-reactions.

**Step 6: To get the overall reaction, we combine the two half-reactions and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

**Step 7: Add as many OH- ions on both sides as the number of H+ ions on one side.

**Step 8: Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

**Example: Balance the Redox Reaction in Basic Medium by Half Reaction Method.

**MnO 4 - + I - → MnO 2 + I 2

**Solution:

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-6

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Oxidation: I- → I2

**Reduction: MnO4- → MnO2

**Step 3: Break the reaction into two halves.

Oxidation Half: I- → I2

Reduction Half: MnO4- → MnO2

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction.

2I- → I2

(Here, 2 moles of I on the n right side so we have to take a molecule of I on the n left side.)

MnO4- → MnO2

2I- → I2

MnO4- → MnO2 + 2H2O

2I- → I2

MnO4- + 4H+ → MnO2 + 2H2O

2I- → I2 + 2e-

MnO4- + 4H+ + 3e- → MnO2 + 2H2O

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the half-reaction. If necessary, multiply one or both half-reactions by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the two half-reactions.

Here, 2 electrons in 1st reaction and 3 electrons in 2nd reaction. so we balance the electron.

3(2I- → I2 + 2e-)

6I- → 3I2 + 6e-

2( MnO4- + 4H+ + 3e- → MnO2 + 2H2O)

2MnO4- + 8H+ + 6e- → 2MnO2 + 4H2O

**Step 6: To get the overall reaction, we combine the half-reactions and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

6I- + 2MnO4- + 8H+ + 8OH- → 3I2 + 2MnO2 + 4H2O + 8OH-

**Step 7: Add as many OH- ions on both sides the s number of H+ ions on one side.

6I- + 2MnO4- + 8H+ + 8OH- → 3I2 + 2MnO2 + 4H2O + 8OH-

6I- + 2MnO4- + 8H2O → 3I2 + 2MnO2 + 4H2O + 8OH-

6I- + 2MnO4- + 4H2O → 3I2 + 2MnO2 + 8OH-

**Step 8: Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

Hence, the equation is balanced.

Balancing Redox Reaction Problems

**Problem 1: Balance the Redox Reaction added below using the oxidation number method.

**CuO + NH 3 → Cu + N 2 + H 2 O

**Solution:

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atom thatch change oxidation number during the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-7

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atoms that undergo oxidation and reduction.

Oxidation: NH3 → N2

Reduction: CuO → Cu

**Step 3: After balancing atoms that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

CuO + NH3 → Cu + N2 + H2O

There is an increase in the O.N. of N from -3 to which is an increase of 3 in O.N. and there is a decrease in the O.N. of Cu from +2 to whichat is a decrease of 2 in O.N.

Cross multiplication,

3CuO + 2NH3 → 3Cu + 2N2 + H2O

**Step 4: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

3CuO + 4NH3 → 3Cu + 2N2 + H2O

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen

3CuO + 4NH3 → 3Cu + 2N2 + H2O +2H2O

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

3CuO + 4NH3 → 3Cu + 2N2 + H2O +2H2O + 6H+

3CuO + 2NH3 → 3Cu + N2 + 3H2O

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Problem 2: Balance the Redox Reaction in acidic medium by Ion Electron method,

**Fe 2+ + Cr 2 O 7 2- → Cr 3+ + Fe 3+

**Solution:

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-8

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atomthatch undergo oxidation and reduction.

Oxidation: Fe2+ → Fe3+

Reduction: Cr2O72- → Cr3+

**Step 3: Break the reaction into two halves.

Oxidation Half,

Fe2+ → Fe3+

Reduction Half,

Cr2O72- → Cr3+

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction.

Fe2+ → Fe3+

Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+

Fe2+ → Fe3+

Cr2O72- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

Fe2+ → Fe3+

Cr2O72- + 14H+ → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

In 1st reaction,

Fe2+ → Fe3+

LHS: (2+) charges

RHS: (3+)charges

Therefore,

Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-

In 2nd reaction,

Cr2O72- + 14H+ → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

LHS: (2-) + (14+) = (12+)charges

RHS: (6+) = (6+) charges

Therefore,

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the thhalf-reactionon. If necessary, multiply one or behalf-reactions by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the twhalf-reactionsns.

(Here, 1 electron in 1st reaction and 6 electrons in 2nd reaction. so we balance the electrons.)

1st reaction,

6(Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-)

6Fe2+ → 6Fe3+ + 6e-

2nd reaction,

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- → 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

**Step 6: To get the overall reaction, we combine the twhalf-reactionsns and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

6Fe2+ + Cr2O72- + 14H+ → 6Fe3+ + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

**Step 7: Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Problem 3: Balance the Redox Reaction in the Basic medium by Half reaction method,

**Ag(s) + Zn 2+ (aq) → Ag 2 O(aq) + Zn(s)

**Solution:

**Step 1: In ionic form, generate an imbalanced equation for the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-9

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atomthatch undergo oxidation and reduction.

Oxidation: Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq)

Reduction: Zn2+(aq) → Zn(s)

**Step 3: Break the reactiointoin two halves.

Oxidation Half,

Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq)

Reduction Half,

Zn2+(aq) → Zn(s)

**Step 4: Balance the Half reaction.

2Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq)

Zn2+(aq) → Zn(s)

H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq)

Zn2+(aq) → Zn(s)

H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq) + 2H+(aq)

Zn2+(aq) → Zn(s)

H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-

Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s)

**Step 5: To balance the charges, add electrons to one side of the thhalf-reactionon. If necessary, multiply one or bothalf-reactionsns by an appropriate value to equal the number of electrons in the two half reactions.

H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) → Ag2O(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-

Zn2+(aq) + 2e- → Zn(s)

Step 6] To get the overall reaction, we combine the twhalf-reactionsns and cancel the common term on both sides. The net ionic equation is thus obtained.

H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) + Zn2+ → Ag2O(aq) + 2H+(aq) + Zn(s)

**Step 7: Add as many OH- ions on both sides athe s number of H+ ions on one side.

2Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) → Zn(s) + Ag2O(aq) + H2O(l)

Step 8] Check that both sides of the equation have the same kind and number of atoms, as well as the exact charges. This final check confirms that the equation is perfectly balanced in terms of particles and charges.

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Problem 4: Balance the Redox Reaction in acidic medium by Oxidation number method,

**Cu + NO 3 - → NO 2 **+ Cu 2+

**Solution:

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atomthatch change oxidation number during the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-2

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atomthatch undergo oxidation and reduction.

Oxidation: Cu → Cu2+

Reduction: NO3- → NO2

**Step 3: After balancinatomsom that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

Cu + NO3- → NO2 + Cu2+

There is an increase in the O.N. of Cu from 0 to +2 which is an increase of 2 in O.N. and there is a decrease in the O.N. of N from +5 to +4 which is a decrease of 1 in O.N.

Cross multiplication,

Cu + 2NO3- → 2NO2 + Cu2+

**Step 4: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

Cu + 2NO3- → 2NO2 + Cu2+

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen.

Cu + 2NO3- → 2NO2 + Cu2+ + 2H2O

**Step 6: By adding H+ molecules to the reactants or products, you can make the number of hydrogen atoms in the expression on both sides equal.

Cu + 2NO3- + 4H+ → 2NO2 + Cu2+ + 2H2O

Hence, the equation is balanced.

**Problem 5: Balance the Redox Reaction in the Basic medium by Oxidation number method,

**[Cr(OH) 4 ] + H 2 O 2 **→ CrO 4 2- + H 2 O

**Solution:

**Step 1: Assign the oxidation number to all elements in the reaction to identify atomthatch change oxidation number during the reaction.

Redox-Reaction-1

**Step 2: Identify the elements/atomthatch undergo oxidation and reduction.

**Step 3: Balance all other atoms except oxygen and hydrogen.

[Cr(OH)4] + H2O2 → CrO42- + H2O

**Step 4: After balancinatomsom that have undergone oxidation and reduction, balance charge by cross multiplication.

There is an increase in the O.N. of chromium from +3 to +whichat is an increase of 3 in O.N. and there is a decrease in the O.N. of one oxygen atom in hydrogen peroxide from −1 to −whichat is a decrease of 1 in O.N.

Cross multiplication,

2[Cr(OH)4]- + 3H2OCr2 → CrO42-+ H2O

**Step 5: Add H2O to balance the oxygen.

2[Cr(OH)4]- + 3H2O2 → 2CrO42- + 6H2O

**Step 6: Add as many OH- ions on both sides as the s number of H+ ions on one side.

2[Cr(OH)4]- + 3H2O2 + 2OH- → 2CrO42- + 8H2O

Hence the equation is balanced.

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