Steps for Balancing Redox Equations by Oxidation Number Method
Step 1.
Write the skeletal redox equation for all the known reactants and products of the reaction.
Step 2.
Indicate the oxidation number of all the atoms in each compound above the symbol of the element.
Step 3.
Identify the element or elements which undergo a change in oxidation number. Usually only two elements will be
involved, one whose oxidation number increases (i.e. reducing agent) and the other whose oxidation number
decreases (i.e. oxidising agent).
Step 4.
Split the redox reaction into Oxidation and Reduction halves respectively.
Step 5.
The elements whose oxidation number has changed is balanced first.
Step 6.
The change in oxidation number is calculated in each halves. (Make sure the elements undergoing redox reaction
are equal on both reactant and product side)
Step 7.
The oxidation half / reduction half are multiplied by the change in oxidation numbers of reduction half / oxidation
half respectively (using Criss–cross method)
Step 8.
If an element has more than one oxidation state in the product side, then the substance containing that element
in reactant side has to be written twice.
Step 9.
All the chemical species from reactant & product are then balanced by using hit & trial method.
While balancing, the elements are balanced in a sequence of:
Metal > Non-metals > Hydrogen > Oxygen
Example : Balance the following equation by O.N. method
Solution:
Step 1: Skeleton equation with O.N. is
Step 2: Identifying in equation where oxidation and reduction is taking place
Step 3: Splitting the equation into oxidation half and reduction half
Oxidation Half:
➢ Oxidation Number increase by 2
Reduction Half:
➢ Oxidation Number decrease by 3
Step 4: Balance the elements undergoing change in oxidation state first and equalize them on both reactant and
product side using suitable stoichiometric coefficient .
➢ Since Zn and N are equal on both side so no need to equalize them.
Step 5: Use Criss - cross method to equalize the change in oxidation number.
As well balance the elements undergoing oxidation and reduction simultaneously using the same number used to
equalize the change in O.N on R.H.S
The equation becomes:
Step 6: Balancing of other elements: { Metals > Non-metals > Hydrogen > Oxygen}
Balancing Nitrogen: (Multiply by 4 on Reactant side containing N)
Balancing Hydrogen: (Multiply by 4 on product side containing H)
Oxygen gets balanced automatically.
⸫ This is the balanced chemical equation.
Example : Balance the following equation by O.N. method
Solution:
Step 1: Skeleton equation with O.N. is
Here, Cl2 undergoes self oxidation and reduction, i.e. auto-oxidation. So, Cl2 should be written twice for
convenience in O.N. counting.
Step 2: Oxidation numbers above the symbol shows that only Chlorine change their O.N. Chlorine is balanced on
reactant and product side by adding co-efficient 2 before NaCl and NaClO3 and then balancing of oxidation number.
Change in O.N = Product O.N – Reactant O.N
= (-1) – (0) = -1 (decrease by 1 per atom)
=(+5) – (0) = +5 (increase by 5 per atom)
After balancing oxidizing and reducing agent i.e., Cl2 on both sides , there are two Cl on R.H.S and 2 Cl on L.H.S
and thus the total increase and decrease in O.N of Cl is
Oxidation: Total change in O.N per molecule = {2 x ( +5)} – ( 0) = 10
Reduction: Total change in O.N per molecule = {2 x (-1)} – (0) = -2
Using Criss-cross method
Step 3: Total increase in O.N must be equal to total decrease in O.N. Therefore, multiply the molecule containing
Cl2 molecule by 2 and another molecule containing Cl2 molecule by 10.
Step 4: Balancing of other elements
It is the balanced equation
