[bns718]

I've been trying to balance this equation, but I just can't seem to make it work...

 ___ EtCH=CHEt + ___ KMnO4  ___ EtCO2K + ___ MnO2 + ___ H2O + ___ KOH


I know -Et represents -C2H5 , but I still can't figure it out. I tried starting with the Mn , and going from there, but still no luck.

[bns718]

I get:   2 6 3 4 5 7
for the coefficients to balance the equation. I know this can't be right since that would mean 6 Mn on the left side of the arrow, and only 4 Mn on the right side of the arrow (among other problems). However, I still can't seem to find the right approach to this problem. Any suggestions for where to start or what to think about would be much appreciated.

[AWK]

Change symbolic formula to summary formula and try balancing by usual way
C6H12 + KMnO4 = C3H5O2K + MnO2 + H2O + KOH

[bns718]

D'oh! I had a small accounting error in converting to summary formula. (So that's why it seemed impossible to balance... It was!) Fixed that, then figured it out: 3 8 6 8 2 2. Thanks!