Balancing Redox Equations in

Acidic Conditions
 Take the reaction between potassium permanganate
（KMnO4) and sodium sulfite (NaSO3)
 7 steps are required to balance the full ionic equation
from 2 separate half equations (oxidation & reduction)
Step 1
 Write 2 half-equations for the reaction.
 MnO4-→Mn2+
 SO32-→SO42-
Step 2
 Balance oxygen atoms using H2O
 MnO4- → Mn2+ + 4H2O
 SO32- + H2O → SO42-
Step 3
 Balance H with H+
 8H+ + MnO4- → Mn3+ + 4H2O
 SO32- + H2O → SO42- + 2H+
Step 4
 Balance the charges with electrons
 8H+ + MnO4- + 5e- → Mn2+ 4H2O
 SO32- + H2O → SO42- + 2H+ + 2e-
Step 5
 Multiply the 2 half-equations by whole numbers (the
lowest common multiple of the 2 stoichiometric
coefficients in front of the electrons) so that electrons
gained in the reduction reaction equals electrons given
out by the oxidation reaction
 In this case the reduction reaction needs to be
multiplied by 2 while the oxidation reaction needs to
be multiplied by 5 to get a common number of
electrons 10
 16H+ + 2MnO4- + 10e- → 2Mn2+ 8H2O
 5SO32- + 5H2O → 5SO42- + 10H+ + 10e-
Step 6
 Add the 2 half-reactions
 16H+ + 2MnO4- + 10e- + 5SO32- + 5H2O → 2Mn2+ 8H2O
+ 5SO42- + 10H+ + 10e-
 The electrons cancel on the both sides to give:
 16H+ + 2MnO4- + 5SO32- + 5H2O → 2Mn2+ 8H2O +
5SO42- + 10H+
Step 7
 Subtract H+ & H2O which occur on both sides of the
equation
 The consumption of 16H+ & the production of 10H+ is
equal to a net consumption of 6H+
 The consumption of 5 H2O molecules & the
production of 8 H2O molecules is equal to the net
production of 3 H2O molecules
 6H+ + 2MnO4- + 5SO32- → 2Mn2+ 3H2O + 5SO42-
Points to note
• The H2O molecules always appear on the right hand-
side (RHS) of the reduction (8H+ + MnO4- + 5e- →
Mn2+ 4H2O)
• reaction but on the left-hand side (LHS) of the
oxidation (SO32- + H2O → SO42- + 2H+ + 2e- reaction
• The H+ ions always appear on the opposite side of H2O
molecules in both of the half-equations and the net
ionic equation.
• 6H+ + 2MnO4- + 5SO32- → 2Mn2+ 3H2O + 5SO42-
Balancing redox equations for
neutral or alkaline conditions
 The reaction taking place is between potassium
permanganate and sodium sulfite to form manganese
dioxide (MnO2)
 The method used for balancing equations in acidic
conditions is used; then 1 OH- is added for every H+ in
the equation
Step 1
 Write the 2 half-reactions
 MnO4- → MnO2
 SO32-SO42-
Steps 2-7
 Follow the same steps as steps 2-4 for the reaction
in acidic media to get the following 2 half-
equations:
 4H+ + MnO4- + 3e- → MnO2 + 2H2O (x2)
 SO32- + H2O → SO42- + 2H+ + 2e- (x3)
 Multiplying the reduction reaction by 2, the
oxidation by 3, adding together and simplifying
gives:
 2H+ + 2MnO4- + 3SO32- → 2MnO2 + H2O + 3SO42-
Step 8
 Add OH- to convert any H+ to H2O. Any OH-
added to 1 side of the equation must also be added
to the other side.
 2H+ + 2OH- 2MnO4- + 3SO32- → 2MnO2 + H2O +
3SO42- + 2OH-
 Which simplifies to:
 2H2O + 2MnO4- + 3SO32- → 2MnO2 + H2O + 3SO42-
+2 OH-
 Which simplifies further to:
 H2O + 2MnO4- + 3SO32- → 2MnO2 + 3SO42- +2 OH-
Balancing Redox equations in
strongly alkaline conditions
 Take the reaction between potassium
permanganate & sodium sulfite in strongly
alkaline media
 MnO4- → MnO42-
 SO32-SO42-
 Following the same steps of balancing the
equation in acidic media, then adding OH- for
every H+ results in:
 2MnO4- + SO32- + 2OH-→ 2MnO42- + SO42- + H2O
Redox Titrations
 Similar to acid-base titrations
 Acid-base titration: transfer of 1 or more hydrogen ions
(protons) from the acid to the base
 Redox Titration: transfer of one/more electrons from a
reducing agent to an oxidizing agent
Oxidizing agents for redox
titrations
 Acidified manganate (VII) ions (permanagate)
 8H+ + MnO4- + 5e- → Mn2+ 4H2O
 MnO4- is purple but Mn2+ is almost colourless
Oxidizing agent for redox titrations
2
 Acidified dichromate (VI) ions
 14H+ + Cr2O72- + 6e-  2Cr3+ + 7H2O
 Cr2O72- are orange in colour
 Cr3+ is green
 Can be used as primary standards (a reagent which is
very pure, & can be used to prepare a solution of
known concentration)
Some more oxidizing agents
 Iron (III) ions/salts
 Fe3+ + e-  Fe2+
 Iodine:
 I2 + 2e-  2I-
 I2 is red brown while I- is colourless
 Acidified hydrogen peroxide
 H2O2 + 2H+ + 2e-  2H2O
Reducing agents for redox
titrations
 Iron(II) salts/ions
 Fe2+  Fe3+ + e-
 Hydrogen peroxide if a more powerful oxidizing agent
e.g. dichromate (VI) or manganate (VII) is present
 H202  2H+ + O2 + 2e-
 Iodide ions: 2I-  I2 + 2e-
 Sodium thiosulfate (VI): 2S2O32-  S4O62- + 2e-