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Topic: Need help with balancing a redox reaction  (Read 1120 times)

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VoltarGomes

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Need help with balancing a redox reaction
« on: October 28, 2019, 04:12:33 AM »
Here is the question:

Phosphorus, P4(s), reacts with hot water to form phosphine, PH3(g), and phosphoric acid, H3PO4(aq). Write a balanced chemical reaction for this equation.

I’m trying to balance this using half reactions (adding H20 and H+) but am getting myself confused. Is this a disproportionation reaction where Phosphorus is both oxidized and reduced? Or is the H20 the second half reaction with the H3PO4?

Offline Borek

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Re: Need help with balancing a redox reaction
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2019, 04:43:42 AM »
Yes, it can be balanced as disproportionation.

Not that it is really necessary, P4 + H2O :rarrow: PH3 + H3PO4 balances quite nicely (hint: start with oxygen, it is present in two molecules only).
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Offline AWK

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Re: Need help with balancing a redox reaction
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2019, 05:25:18 AM »
Quote
(adding H20 and H+)
Your method works - just do it carefully - or show you result to get more help.
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