Chapter 20: Problem 23
Balance the following redox equations. (a) \(\mathrm{Cu}(s)+\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q)+\mathrm{NO}_{2}(g)\) (acidic) (b) \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s)+\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q)+\mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q)\) (basic)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Question: Balance the following redox reactions:
(a) Cu(s) + NO3^-(aq) → Cu^2+(aq) + NO2(g) (acidic)
(b) Cr(OH)3(s) + ClO^-(aq) → CrO4^2-(aq) + Cl^-(aq) (basic)
Answer:
(a) Cu(s) + 2NO3^-(aq) + 4H+(aq) → Cu^2+(aq) + 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
(b) 2Cr(OH)3(s) + 4ClO^-(aq) → 2CrO4^2-(aq) + 4Cl^-(aq) + 2H2O(l)
Step by step solution
01
Identify the oxidation and reduction half-reactions
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cu}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q)\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g)\)
02
Balance the atoms, except for oxygen and hydrogen
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cu}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q)\) (already balanced)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g)\) (already balanced)
03
Balance the oxygen atoms by adding water molecules
Oxidation: No need to balance oxygen atoms
Reduction: \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) + H_2O (l)\)
04
Balance hydrogen atoms by adding protons
Oxidation: No need to balance hydrogen atoms
Reduction: \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) + 2H^+(aq) \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) + H_2O (l)\)
05
Balance charges by adding electrons
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cu}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q) + 2e^-\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) + 2H^+(aq) + e^- \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) + H_2O (l)\)
06
Make the number of electrons equal and combine half-reactions
\(\mathrm{Cu}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q) + 2e^-\)
\(\mathrm{2NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) + 4H^+(aq) + 2e^- \longrightarrow 2\mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) + 2H_2O (l)\)
Combine:
\(\mathrm{Cu}(s) + \mathrm{2NO}_{3}^{-}(a q) + 4H^+(aq) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q) + 2\mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) + 2H_2O (l)\)
(b) \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s)+\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q)+\mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q)\) (basic)
07
Identify the oxidation and reduction half-reactions
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q)\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q)\)
08
Balance the atoms, except for oxygen and hydrogen
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q)\) (already balanced)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q)\) (already balanced)
09
Balance the oxygen atoms by adding water molecules
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) + 3H_2O (l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q)\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q) + H_2O(l)\)
10
Balance hydrogen atoms by adding hydroxide ions
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) + 3H_2O (l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q) + 6OH^-(aq)\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) + 2OH^-(aq) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q) + H_2O(l)\)
11
Balance charges by adding electrons
Oxidation: \(\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) + 3H_2O (l) + 2e^- \longrightarrow \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q) + 6OH^-(aq)\)
Reduction: \(\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) + 2OH^-(aq) + e^- \longrightarrow \mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q) + H_2O(l)\)
12
Make the number of electrons equal and combine half-reactions
\(\mathrm{2Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) + 6H_2O (l) + 4e^- \longrightarrow \mathrm{2CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q) + 12OH^-(aq)\)
\(\mathrm{4ClO}^{-}(a q) + 8OH^-(aq) + 4e^- \longrightarrow \mathrm{4Cl}^{-}(a q) + 4H_2O(l)\)
Combine:
\(\mathrm{2Cr}(\mathrm{OH})_{3}(s) + 4\mathrm{ClO}^{-}(a q) \longrightarrow 2\mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(a q) + 4\mathrm{Cl}^{-}(a q) + 2H_2O (l)\)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Half-Reaction Method
The half-reaction method is an essential tool in chemistry for balancing redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions. Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between different chemical species. Using half-reactions can simplify the balancing process:
- In a redox reaction, two half-reactions are identified: one for oxidation and one for reduction.
- In each half-reaction, we separately consider the oxidation and reduction processes.
- The oxidation half-reaction shows electrons being lost, while the reduction half-reaction shows electrons being gained.
- Oxidation: The transformation from Cu(s) to Cu2+(aq).
- Reduction: The transformation from NO3-(aq) to NO2(g).
Oxidation and Reduction
Understanding oxidation and reduction is pivotal in chemistry, especially when discussing redox reactions. These processes involve electron transfer and are two halves of a redox reaction.
- Oxidation occurs when a substance loses electrons, leading to an increase in oxidation state. For instance, Cu in our first example becomes Cu2+, losing two electrons.
- Reduction, on the other hand, is the gain of electrons, resulting in a decrease in oxidation state. In the same reaction, NO3- gains electrons to become NO2.
Balancing Chemical Equations
Balancing chemical equations ensures that the same number of each type of atom is present on both sides of a reaction, adhering to the law of conservation of mass. In the context of redox reactions, balancing also involves ensuring charge balance.
- Start by writing the unbalanced equation and then separate it into half-reactions as mentioned earlier.
- Balance all atoms except hydrogen and oxygen first.
- Balance oxygen atoms by adding water (H2O) molecules.
- Next, balance hydrogen atoms by adding protons (H+) or hydroxide ions (OH-) depending on the solution’s acidity or basicity.
- Finally, balance the charge by adding electrons (e-).