FOLLOW THESE FOUR STEPS EVERY TIME!!! Balancing REDOX 1/2 equations FOLLOW THESE FOUR STEPS EVERY TIME!!! Balance all atoms that aren’t oxygen or hydrogen Balance the oxygens using H2O Balance the H’s using H+ Balance the charges using electrons (put the electrons on the most positive side) Check you have on oxidation and one reduction reaction

NOTE THE EXTRA STEP IN ALKALINE SOLUTION Balancing REDOX 1/2 equations NOTE THE EXTRA STEP IN ALKALINE SOLUTION Balance all atoms that aren’t oxygen or hydrogen Balance the oxygens using H2O Balance the H’s using H+ ADD AN OH- TO EACH SIDE FOR EVERY H+ YOU ADDED Then add the H+ + OH- to make water and cancel like terms Balance the charges using electrons (put the electrons on the most positive side) Check you have on oxidation and one reduction reaction

Example: Reduction of MnO4- to Mn2+ MnO4- Mn2+ MnO4- Mn2+ + 4H2O MnO4- + 8H+ Mn2+ + 4H2O MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e Mn2+ + 4H2O