Balance the following equation for a half reaction that occurs in basic solution. Use e– as the symbol for an electron.
SO3^2- ---> S2O4^2-
Nevermind I figured it out its:
2SO3^2- + 2H2O + 2e^- ---> S2O4^2- + 4OH^-
2 SO3^-2 + 2 H2O + 2e- -> S2O4^-2 + 4OH-
dr bob is so wrong, good job BOB
Bob forever, all my homies hate Dr Bob.
DrBob222 you're wrong.
To balance a half-reaction in basic solution, follow these steps:
Step 1: Write the unbalanced half-reaction.
In this case, the unbalanced half-reaction is:
SO3^2- ---> S2O4^2-
Step 2: Balance the non-hydrogen and non-oxygen atoms.
Start by balancing the non-hydrogen and non-oxygen atoms. In this case, we only have sulfur (S) atoms:
SO3^2- ---> 2S2O4^2-
Step 3: Balance the oxygen atoms.
Next, balance the oxygen atoms by adding water (H2O) molecules to the side that is deficient in oxygen. In this case, we have a deficiency of oxygen on the right side:
SO3^2- ---> 2S2O4^2- + H2O
Step 4: Balance the hydrogen atoms.
Balance the hydrogen atoms by adding hydrogen ions (H+) to the side that is deficient in hydrogen. In this case, we have a deficiency of hydrogen on the right side:
SO3^2- + 3H2O ---> 2S2O4^2- + 6H+
Step 5: Balance the charges.
Finally, balance the charges by adding electrons (e-) to the side that is deficient in negative charge. In this case, the right side has an overall charge of -4 (from the four S2O4^2- ions), while the left side has a charge of -2 (from the SO3^2- ion):
SO3^2- + 3H2O + 2e- ---> 2S2O4^2- + 6H+
Now, the half-reaction is balanced in basic solution.
I shall be glad to help you through this but you need to learn to do these yourself. I do these the looong way. The first step is to determine the oxidation step of each element. I will help you here. S on the left is +4 and on the right is +6. Add electrons to the appropriate side to balance the change in oxidation number.
SO3^2- ==> SO4^2- + ?e
Is it:
H2O + SO3^2- ---> SO4^2- +2H^+ + 3e^-
NOPE.
You changed SO4^2- on the right to S2O4^2- and you can't do that. Also you have the e on the wrong side. Other than that it is ok.
2OH^- + SO3^2- ==> SO4^2- + 2e + H2O