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Balancing Redox Equations Using Oxidation Numbers
See pages 144 to 148 of Harwood & Petrucci
The oxidation number method oI balancing equations is best explained through an example.

(1) Ee
2
MnO
4
-
H

Ee
3
Mn
2
H
2
O
Step 1: Write in the oxidation numbers where needed
7 2 1 -2
Ee
2
MnO
4
-
H

Ee
3
Mn
2
H
2
O
Step 2: IdentiIy the changes (in oxidation number) as being either Oxidation (increase in O.N.) or
Reduction (decrease in O.N.).
Oxidation: Ee
2
Ee
3
1e
-
(X5) **
Reduction: Mn
7
5e
-
Mn
2
(X1) **
Step 3: Balance electron loss and gain by multiplying (**).
5Ee
2
MnO
4
-
H

5Ee
3
Mn
2
H
2
O
Step 4: Balance oxygen (by adding H
2
O iI necessary)
5Ee
2
MnO
4
-
H

5Ee
3
Mn
2
4H
2
O
Step 5: Balance hydrogen by adding H

5 Ee
2
MnO
4
-
8H

5Ee
3
Mn
2
4H
2
O
Step 6: Check that atoms and charge are balanced leIt and right: 17 LeIt 17 Right

Example 2 Cu NO
3
-
H

Cu
2
NO
2
H
2
O
Write in all the oxidation numbers and note changes:
0 5-2 4-2 1-2
Cu NO
3
-
H

Cu
2
NO
2
H
2
O
-2e
-
1e
-
(oxid) (red)x2 (to balance electron loss and gain)
Cu 2NO
3
-
H

Cu
2
2NO
2
H
2
O
Next balance oxygen by adding water:
Cu 2NO
3
-
H

Cu
2
2NO
2
2H
2
O
Add H

to the leIt-hand-side)
Cu 2NO
3
-
4H

Cu
2
2NO
2
2H
2
O
Einally, check charge total leIt and right.
In this case, the charge is 2 on both sides.
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Balance the following redox reactions by following the steps:
Assign oxidation numbers to all atoms in the equation
Determine which elements are undergoing oxidation/reduction and balance each with
temporary coeIIicients
Determine the total change in oxidation state Ior the oxidizing agent and the reducing
agent
Balance the two changes in oxidation state by multiplying each by the appropriate Iactor.
Balance the rest oI the equation by inspection
Examples
1. The Iirst synthesis oI chlorine gas was achieved in 1774 by oxidizing hydrochloric acid
(produced by reacting salt with sulphuric acid) with manganese (IV) oxide, as Iollows:
NaCl H
2
SO
4
MnO
2
Na
2
SO
4
MnCl
2
H
2
O Cl
2
2. Silver is sometimes Iound in nature as large nuggets, more oIten it is Iound mixed with other
metals and their ores. An aqueous solution containing cyanide ion is oIten used to extract the
silver using the Iollowing reaction:
CN

Ag O
2
H
2
O Ag(CN)
2

OH

3. Potassium dichromate (K
2
Cr
2
O
7
) is a bright orange compound that can be reduced to a blue-
violet solution oI Cr
3
ions. Under certain conditions, K
2
Cr
2
O
7
reacts with ethyl alcohol
(C
2
H
5
OH) as Iollows:
H

Cr
2
O
7
2-
C
2
H
5
OH Cr
3
CO
2
H
2
O
4. Iron ores can be analyzed Ior their iron content by dissolving the ore in an acidic solution,
reducing all the iron to Fe
2
ions, and then titrating with a standard solution oI potassium
permanganate (Note: this is an example oI a titration that doesn`t involve an acid reacting with a
base!):
H

MnO
4

Fe
2
Fe
3
Mn
2
H
2
O
The advantages and disadvantages of the oxidation number concept:
Oxidation numbers can help us to decide whether or not redox is involved in a particular process.
Oxidation numbers show that neutralisation and precipitation are not redox reactions, even though they
involve ions. Oxidation numbers is an important electron book-keeping device that allows us to
recognise redox processes; Iurther they allow us to see exactly which part oI a molecule or a complex ion
is reduced or oxidised.
The main disadvantage oI the oxidation number concept is that it can lead to misunderstanding about the
structure oI molecular substances. The oxidation number oI carbon in CO
2
is 4, but it must not be
supposed that there is a charge oI 4 on the carbon atom.
In some cases ambiguities can arise with oxidation numbers. For example, the rules Ior assigning
oxidation numbers suggest that each sulphur atom in the thiosulphate ion, S
2
O
3
-2
, has an oxidation
number oI 2. However the structure oI the S
2
O
3
-2
ions show that the two sulphur atoms in it are quite
diIIerent. One S-atom is at the centre oI a tetrahedron bonded to the other Iour atoms (one S and three O
atoms ) similar to the S-atom in SO
4
-2
ion.
Two Iurther problems with oxidation numbers concerns their use with organic compounds. The carbon
atoms in compounds in compounds such as CH
4
, C
2
H
6
, and C
3
H
8
all have Iour covalent bonds. In spite oI
this similarity, they have diIIerent oxidation numbers, i.e. -4. -3 and -2 2/3 respectively. The other
problem is that in some compounds, as in C
3
H
8
, atoms have oxidation numbers that are not whole
numbers.
In spite oI these disadvantages the concept oI oxidation numbers is still very useIul.
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Assignment: Balancing Equations Using Oxidation Numbers
1. Co MnO
4
-
H

Co
2
Mn
2
H
2
O
2. I
-
IO
-
H

I
2
H
2
O
3. Cr
2
O
7
2-
SO
3
2-
H

Cr
3
SO
4
2-
H
2
O
4. Cr
2
O
7
2-
S
2-
H

Cr
3
S H
2
O
5. I
2
Cl
2
H
2
O IO
3
-
Cl
-
H

6. Ee
3
O
4
Al Ee Al
2
O
3
7. ClO
-
Cl
-
H
2
O Cl
2
OH
-
8. S
2-
NO
3
-
H

SO
2
NO
2
H
2
O
9. Cu HNO
3
Cu(NO
3
)
2
NO H
2
O
10. KMnO
4
HCl KCl MnCl
2
H
2
O Cl
2
11. MnO
2
HCl MnCl
2
H
2
O Cl
2
12. KMnO
4
HClO
2
H
2
O MnO
2
HClO
4
KOH
13. PbO
2
HI PbI
2
I
2
H
2
O
14. H
1
Cr
2
O
7
-2
H
2
S Cr
3
S H
2
O
15. S
2
O
3
-2
I
2
S
4
O
6
-2
I
-1
16. Cl
2
OH
-1
Cl
-1
ClO
-1
H
2
O
17. KIO
3
KI HCl KCl ICl 3H
2
O
18. Cu
2
I
-1
CuI I
2