Redox Reaction Balancer

Redox Basics

Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between species.

• Oxidation: Loss of electrons (increase in oxidation number)
• Reduction: Gain of electrons (decrease in oxidation number)
• Oxidizing Agent: Species that gets reduced
• Reducing Agent: Species that gets oxidized

Oxidation Number Rules

1. Free elements: 0
2. Monatomic ions: charge of ion
3. Oxygen: usually -2 (except peroxides: -1)
4. Hydrogen: +1 (with nonmetals), -1 (with metals)
5. Group 1: +1, Group 2: +2
6. Sum = total charge

Half-Reaction Method

For Acidic Solutions:

1. Split into half-reactions
2. Balance atoms except O and H
3. Balance O by adding H₂O
4. Balance H by adding H⁺
5. Balance charge by adding e⁻
6. Equalize electrons transferred
7. Add half-reactions and simplify

For Basic Solutions:

• Follow acidic method first
• Add OH⁻ to neutralize H⁺
• Combine H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O
• Cancel excess H₂O