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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: sickness on March 20, 2005, 08:22:53 AM

Title: Balancing some odd half reactions
Post by: sickness on March 20, 2005, 08:22:53 AM

So out of 6 half reactions 1 and a half are over my head.

C₂HCl₃+O₂  -->  CO₂+Cl^-  I am assuming that the Oxygen goes with the carbon dioxide and the other with the cloride.  my question I guess is How do I balance the carbons on either side say like with O₂ -->  CO₂

Other question is

O₂+3Co₂²⁺+6H₂O  -->  2Co₃O₄+12H⁺

I am having trouble trying to figure out the correct number of electrons to add. it is the  2Co₃O₄ that is throwing me for a loop

Title: Re:Balancing some odd half reactions
Post by: Borek on March 20, 2005, 11:06:26 AM

Quote from: sickness on March 20, 2005, 08:22:53 AM

It is the  2Co₃O₄ that is throwing me for a loop

Think about it as if it was Co₂O₃+CoO.

Title: Re:Balancing some odd half reactions
Post by: AWK on March 21, 2005, 03:23:49 AM

Quote

C2HCl3+O2  -->  CO2+Cl-

Each reaction is balanced whenn all atoms and charges are balanced.
Hence you should add something to the left and/or to the right side of this equation to balance charges, eg
C2HCl3+O2+OH- -->  CO2+Cl-+H2O