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Topic: Balancing Redox Reactions  (Read 5769 times)

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Offline Boxxxed

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Balancing Redox Reactions
« on: October 02, 2010, 07:09:17 PM »
As2O3(s) + NO3-(aq) → H3AsO4(aq) + HNO2(aq)
Write which element is reduced: __________ which element is oxidized? _________

I have 7H+ + As203 + NO3- |---------> 2H3As04 + HN02

Arsenic gains 16 electrons, nitrogen gains 2 electrons from my calculations. If oxygen and hydrogen aren't oxidized what is?
« Last Edit: October 02, 2010, 07:23:29 PM by Boxxxed »

Offline ooosh

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Re: Balancing Redox Reactions
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2010, 10:01:41 PM »
The oxidized element is As ,which from As2O3(+3) to H3AsO4 (+5),and the reduced element element is N from NO3-(+5) to HNO2(+3).Then you can do the balancing job.

Offline Boxxxed

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Re: Balancing Redox Reactions
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2010, 11:59:41 AM »
Wow, that was easy, guess I just had a major brain fart

Offline Boxxxed

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Re: Balancing Redox Reactions
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2010, 12:06:05 PM »

I have

As203 + 2NO3-  >>>>>>  2H3As04 + 2HNO2

It's balanced for number of electrons, how do I balance for oxygen and hydrogen? Do I just add H20 and H+ ?

Also, I forgot the 2 in As2O3 in the original post.

Offline ooosh

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Re: Balancing Redox Reactions
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2010, 10:48:32 PM »
I can not give you the answer,but you almost get your answer.There are three basic rules for balancing reaction:law of conservation of mass , charge conservation and materials conservation.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2010, 11:47:30 PM by ooosh »

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Re: Balancing Redox Reactions
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2010, 05:57:27 AM »
Do I just add H20 and H+ ?

In a correct way. But yes, that's what you should do now.

Note that whether you should use H+ or OH- depends on the solution pH. You are not told what is pH solution in this case, but as one of the products listed is H3AsO4 - fully protonated acid - you may assume pH is low.
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