Balance the following oxidation-reduction reaction in acid solution: MnO₄^- + H₂C₂O₄ → Mn²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O
The sum of the coefficients is ________.

Question

Balance the following oxidation-reduction reaction in acid solution: MnO₄^- + H₂C₂O₄ → Mn²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O The sum of the coefficients is ________. A) 25 B) 47 C) 33 D) 18 E) 21

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, we need to write out the half-reactions and balance them individually.

Oxidation half-reaction: 
MnO4- -> Mn2+

We start by adding water molecules to balance the oxygen atoms: 
MnO4- + H2O -> Mn2+

Next, we add hydrogen ions to balance the hydrogen atoms: 
MnO4- + H+ + H2O -> Mn2+

Now we balance the charge by adding electrons: 
MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- -> Mn2+ + 4H2O

Reduction half-reaction: 
HSO3- -> SO42-

We balance the sulfur atoms first: 
HSO3- -> SO42-

Next, we add water molecules to balance the oxygen atoms: 
HSO3- + H2O -> SO42- + 2H+

Now we balance the charge by adding electrons: 
HSO3- + H2O + 2e- -> SO42- + 2H+

To balance the overall equation, we need to multiply the oxidation half-reaction by 2 and the reduction half-reaction by 5:

2MnO4- + 16H+ + 10e- -> 2Mn2+ + 8H2O 
5HSO3- + 5H2O + 10e- -> 5SO42- + 10H+

Now we can add these two half-reactions together to get the balanced equation:

2MnO4- + 16H+ + 10HSO3- -> 2Mn2+ + 5SO42- + 8H2O

The sum of the coefficients is 33 (2 + 16 + 10 + 2 + 5 + 8 = 33).

Balance the Following Oxidation-Reduction Reaction in Acid Solution: MnO4-

Balance the Following Oxidation-Reduction Reaction in Acid Solution: MnO₄^-