April 27, 2024, 06:14:23 PM
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Topic: Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Equations  (Read 1795 times)

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Offline akaEMILY

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Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Equations
« on: April 03, 2012, 12:53:52 PM »
Zn2+(aq) +  Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) +  Zn(s)
Seems fairly simple.. Not quite sure why I'm getting it wrong.

Oxidation numbers: 2+, 0, 2+, 0
Zinc is the reduction agent, it loses 2.
Iron is the oxidation, it gains 2.
So shouldn't the balanced equation be:

2Zn2+(aq) + 2Fe(s) → 2Fe2+(aq) +  2Zn(s)

Offline sjb

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Re: Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Equations
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2012, 01:03:42 PM »
Zn2+(aq) +  Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) +  Zn(s)
Seems fairly simple.. Not quite sure why I'm getting it wrong.

Oxidation numbers: 2+, 0, 2+, 0
Zinc is the reduction agent, it loses 2.
Iron is the oxidation, it gains 2.
So shouldn't the balanced equation be:

2Zn2+(aq) + 2Fe(s) → 2Fe2+(aq) +  2Zn(s)

This is not false, but can you see a common factor amongst the reactants and products?

Offline akaEMILY

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Re: Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Equations
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2012, 01:45:00 PM »
Wow I didn't even think to reduce it.. silly me. I kept getting it wrong on my online assignment and I was wondering why it wasn't accepting it.

Thank you. Sometimes I just need a little help to cue in.

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