Balancing Equation and Oxidation Reduction Reaction

Balancing
Equation and
Oxidation
Reduction Reaction
What is oxidation
Reduction Reaction?
Oxidation-Reduction (redox)
An oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction is a type of chemical reaction that involves a transfer of electrons
between two species. An oxidation-reduction reaction is any chemical reaction in which the oxidation number of a
molecule, atom, or ion changes by gaining or losing an electron.
STEPS IN BALANCING EQUATION
Step 1: The Unbalanced
Chemical Equation
The unbalanced chemical

equation is given to you.
Aluminum reacts with oxygen
to produce aluminum oxide.
Step 2: Make a List
First, identify the elements

on the reactant side(left side)
and the elements of the
compound are on the product side (right side).
make a list of all of the elements on each side under the
equation for both the reactants and products as shown above
Under the reactant’s side, list Al and O
under the product’s side, list Al and O
Step 3: Identifying the Atoms in Each Element
An atom is the smallest
component of an element that
contains chemical properties of
that element. The atom of
each element’s contains the
protons, neutrons, and
electrons of that element.
The list made of each element on both the reactant and product side will further help
you identify the number of atoms each element contains.
Next to each element of the list, put the number of atoms that are in each of the
elements.
on the reactants side, next to Al, put 1
next to O, put 2
apply these same rules to each element on the product side
Step 4: Multiplying the Number of Atoms
Notice how the number of atoms next to each element is different from
the number of atoms next to that same element on the product side.
In order to balance the chemical equation, you need to make sure the
number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the
number of atoms of each element on the product side. In order make
both sides equal, you will need to multiply the number of atoms in
each element until both sides are equal.
As shown above, the multiplication
of the atoms on
the reactant side will affect both
elements on the product side.
Step 5: Placing Coefficients in Front of Molecules
After you have multiplied the number of atoms of each element until
both sides are equal, you will put the number, the coefficient, of how
much you multiplied the element by and place in front of that element or
compound in the equation as shown above.
On the product side, although both elements did not get multiplied, still
place the number that was multiplied as the coefficient in front of the
compound.
Step 6: Check Equation
After you have placed the coefficients

in front of the molecules, make the list
of elements again and check to see if
multiplying the coefficient with the
subscript will give you atoms equal on
both the reactant and product sides.
If they are not equal, rework your
multiplication.
Step 7: Balanced Chemical Equation
After you have reworked your multiplication, make

the list of elements again to check to make sure the
equation is balanced. If both sides are equal, you have
now balanced
the chemical
equation!
Assigning Oxidation Numbers
The oxidation number is a positive or negative

number that is assigned to an atom to indicate its degree
of oxidation or reduction. In oxidation-reduction processes,
the driving force for chemical change is in the exchange of
electrons between chemical species. A series of rules have
been developed to determine oxidation numbers:
1.For free elements (uncombined state), each atom has an

oxidation number of zero. H H2, Br Br2, NaNa, BeBe, KK, O O2, P P4, all
2 2 2 4
have an oxidation number of 0.

2. Monatomic ions have oxidation numbers equal to their
charge. Li+=+1Li+=+1, Ba2+=+2Ba2+=+2, Fe3+=+3Fe3+
=+3, I−=−1I−=−1, O2−=−2O2−=−2, etc. Alkali metal
oxidation numbers =+1=+1. Alkaline earth oxidation
numbers =+2=+2. Aluminum =+3=+3 in all of its compounds.
Oxygen's oxidation number =−2=−2 except when in hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2)(H2O2), or a peroxide ion (O2−2)
(O22−) where it is −1−1.
3.Hydrogen's oxidation number is +1+1, except for when
bonded to metals as the hydride ion forming binary
compounds. In LiHLiH, NaHNaH, and CaH2CaH2, the
oxidation number is −1−1.
4.Fluorine has an oxidation number of −1−1 in all of its
compounds.
5.Halogens (ClCl, BrBr, II) have negative oxidation
numbers when they form halide compounds. When
combined with oxygen, they have positive numbers. In
the chlorate ion (ClO−3)(ClO3−), the oxidation number
of ClCl is +5+5, and the oxidation number
of OO is −2−2.
6.In a neutral atom or molecule, the sum of the
oxidation numbers must be 0. In a polyatomic ion, the
sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in the ion
must be equal to the charge on the ion.

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Balancing

The unbalanced chemical

First, identify the elements

After you have placed the coefficients

After you have reworked your multiplication, make

The oxidation number is a positive or negative

1.For free elements (uncombined state), each atom has an

have an oxidation number of 0.

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