Do you have a redox equation you don't know how to balance? Besides simply balancing the equation in question, these programs will also give you a detailed overview of the entire balancing process with your chosen method.
In the ion-electron method (also called the half-reaction method), the redox equation is separated into two half-equations - one for oxidation and one for reduction. Each of these half-reactions is balanced separately and then combined to give the balanced redox equation.
Step 1. Write down the unbalanced equation ('skeleton equation') of the chemical reaction. All reactants and products must be known. For a better result write the reaction in ionic form.
Step 2. Separate the redox reaction into half-reactions. A redox reaction is nothing but both oxidation and reduction reactions taking place simultaneously.
a) Assign oxidation numbers for each atom in the equation. Oxidation number (also called oxidation state) is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a substance (see: Rules for assigning oxidation numbers).
The program has failed to separate the equation to partial reactions of oxidation and reduction (one of the redox pairs is missing). The most likely cause is that the equation is written wrong. Balance as a non-redox equation by Gauss elimination method → Ca3(PO4)2(s) + H2SO4(aq) = H3PO4(aq) + CaSO4(s).
Citing this page:
Generalic, Eni. "Balancing redox reactions by the ion-electron method." EniG. Periodic Table of the Elements. KTF-Split, 18 Jan. 2024. Web. {Date of access}. <https://www.periodni.com/half-reaction_method.php>.
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