Chapter 19: Problem 82
Balance these redox equations by any method. \begin{equation} \begin{array}{l}{\text { a. } \mathrm{P}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{HNO}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{PO}_{4}+\mathrm{NO}} \\ {\text { b. } \mathrm{KClO}_{3}+\mathrm{HCl} \rightarrow \mathrm{Cl}_{2}+\mathrm{ClO}_{2}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{KCl}}\end{array} \end{equation}
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Break down the reaction into half-reactions (a)
Balance the atoms other than oxygen and hydrogen (a)
Balance oxygen atoms (a)
Balance hydrogen atoms using H+ (a)
Balance charges using electrons (a)
Combine and balance electrons across half-reactions (a)
Break down the reaction into half-reactions (b)
Balance atoms other than O and H (b)
Balance oxygen atoms (b)
Balance H using H+ and e- (b)
Balance charges via electrons (b)
Combine and verify balanced equation (b)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Balancing Chemical Equations
- Identify reactants and products: Start by writing down the correct formulas for all reactants and products involved. This is the basic skeleton of your chemical equation.
- List each type of atom and count them on both sides of the equation: Often, it’s helpful to start with the atoms that appear in a single reactant or product.
- Adjust coefficients: Use whole numbers as coefficients to balance each type of atom on both sides. Remember, you only change coefficients, not subscripts, to balance the equation.
- Check your work: Once you believe the equation is balanced, recount all the atoms for each element to ensure they're equal across both sides. Also, double-check that the charges are balanced if applicable.
Oxidation-Reduction
- Oxidation involves the loss of electrons. When a species is oxidized, it loses electrons, which results in an increase in oxidation state.
- Reduction involves the gain of electrons. When a species is reduced, it gains electrons, causing its oxidation state to decrease.
- Redox reactions are coupled: Oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously. One species loses electrons (oxidized), while another species gains those electrons (reduced).
- Identifying redox pairs: Look at changes in oxidation states of elements in the chemical reaction to determine which are oxidized and which are reduced.
Half-Reactions
- Definition: A half-reaction is either the oxidation or reduction reaction component of a redox process.
- Oxidation half-reaction: It illustrates how electrons are lost in the reaction. For instance, phosphorus oxidizing to phosphoric acid can be shown through a half-reaction.
- Reduction half-reaction: It demonstrates the gain of electrons. An example is nitrate reducing to nitrogen oxide within the reaction.
- Balancing steps: For both parts, ensure that separate steps balance elements other than oxygen and hydrogen first, then balance oxygen through water and hydrogen with hydrogen ions.
- Combine and balance: After writing and balancing each half-reaction, you combine them, ensuring that the number of electrons lost equals the number of electrons gained.
Electrons Transfer
- Electron transfer defines redox reactions: These involve movement of electrons from the reducing agent (which loses electrons) to the oxidizing agent (which gains electrons).
- Significance of electron balance: While balancing redox equations, ensuring that electrons lost equals electrons gained is vital. This balance preserves charge neutrality.
- Visualizing electron flow: Imagining electrons moving from one species to another can simplify understanding of redox reactions. Drawing diagrams or using models might help visualize these transfers.
- Role of electrons in oxidation state changes: As electrons are transferred, oxidation states change. Monitoring these changes ensures correct balancing of the reaction.