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Balancing oxidation-reduction equations using the Ion-electron method

Acidic solution
1) Write the equation in ionic form.
2) Write the half-reactions for oxidation and for reduction.
3) Balance oxygen atoms adding H2O molecules.
4) Balance hydrogen atoms adding H+ ions.
5) Balance charge adding electrons e.
6) Multiply each half-reaction by a number that will equalize the number of electrons transferred.
7) Add the resulting half-reactions equations to obtain the balanced net ionic equation.
8) Add spectator ions to obtain the balanced net molecular equation.

Basic solution
1) Write the equation in ionic form.
2) Write the half-reactions for oxidation and for reduction.
3) Balance oxygen atoms adding H2O molecules.
4) Balance hydrogen atoms adding H+ ions.
5) Eliminate H+ ions adding OH ions to each side of the half-reaction to obtain H2O molecules
6) Balance charge adding electrons e-
7) Multiply each half-reaction by a number that will equalize the number of electrons transferred.
8) Add the resulting half-reactions equations to obtain the balanced net ionic equation.
9) Add spectator ions to obtain the balanced net molecular equation.
Example 1. Acidic solution

K 2Cr2 O 7 + HI + H 2SO 4 Cr2 (SO 4 )3 + I 2 + K 2SO 4 + H 2O (Molecular equation)

Write the equation in ionic form:

K + + Cr2 O 72- + H + + I - + SO 24- K + + SO 24- + Cr 3+ + I 2 + H 2 O
6+ 0
K + + C r2 O 72- + H + + I - + SO 2-4 K + + SO 2-4 + Cr 3+ + I 2 + H 2 O

Half-reaction for dichromate reduction:

Cr2O72- Cr 3+
Balance chromium atoms:
Cr2O72- 2Cr 3+
Balance oxygen atoms adding H2O molecules:
Cr2 O 72- 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O
Balance hydrogen atoms adding H+ ions:
Cr2 O 72- + 14H + 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O
Balance charge adding electrons e:
Cr2 O 72- + 14H + + 6e 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O

Half-reaction for iodide oxidation:

I- I2
Balance iodine atoms:
2I - I 2
Balance charge adding electrons e:
2I - I 2 + 2e -

Multiply each half-reaction by a number that will equalize the number of electrons transferred.
Add the resulting half-reactions equations to obtain the balanced net ionic equation:
1 x [ Cr2 O 72- + 14 H + + 6e 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O ]
+ 3 x [ 2I - I 2 + 2e - ]

Cr2 O 72- + 6I - + 14H + 2Cr 3+ + 3I 2 + 7 H 2 O (Balanced net ionic equation)

Add spectator ions to obtain the balanced net molecular equation:

K 2 Cr2 O 7 + 6HI + 4H 2SO 4 Cr2 (SO 4 ) 3 + 3I 2 + K 2SO 4 + 7 H 2 O
Example 2. Basic solution

K 2 Cr2 O 7 + KI + H 2 O + KCl CrCl 3 + I 2 + KOH (Molecular equation)

Write the equation in ionic form:

K + + Cr2 O 72- + I - + Cl + H 2 O Cr 3+ + Cl + I 2 + K + + OH
Half-reaction for dichromate reduction:
Cr2O72- Cr 3+
Balance chromium atoms:
Cr2O72- 2Cr 3+
Balance oxygen atoms adding H2O molecules:
Cr2 O 72- 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O
Balance hydrogen atoms adding H+ ions:
Cr2 O 72- + 14H + 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O
Eliminate H+ ions adding OH ions to each side to obtain H2O molecules:
Cr2 O 72- + 14H + + 14OH 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O + 14OH
Cr2 O 72- + 14H 2 O 2Cr 3+ + 7H 2 O + 14OH
Cr2 O 72- + 7 H 2 O 2Cr 3+ + 14OH
Balance charge adding electrons e:
Cr2 O 72- + 7 H 2 O + 6e 2Cr 3+ + 14OH

Half-reaction for iodide oxidation:

I- I2
Balance iodine atoms:
2I - I 2
Balance charge adding electrons e:
2I- I 2 + 2e-

Multiply each half-reaction by a number that will equalize the number of electrons transferred.
Add the resulting half-reactions equations to obtain the balanced net ionic equation:
1 x [ Cr2 O 72- + 7 H 2 O + 6e 2Cr 3+ + 14OH ]
+ 3 x [ 2I - I 2 + 2e - ]

Cr2 O 72- + 6I - + 7 H 2 O 2Cr 3+ + 3I 2 + 14OH (Balanced net ionic equation)

Add spectator ions to obtain the balanced net molecular equation:

K 2Cr2 O 7 + 6KI + 7 H 2 O + 6KCl 2CrCl 3 + 3I 2 + 14KOH

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