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

Question

Balance the following oxidation-reduction reaction in acid solution: MnO₄^-(aq)+ H₂C₂O₄(aq)→ Mn²⁺(aq)+ CO₂(g)+ H₂O(l) 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: 
MnO4- (aq) → Mn2+ (aq)

Reduction: 
SO32- (aq) → SO42- (aq)

We can then combine these half-reactions by multiplying them by appropriate coefficients to eliminate the electrons:

5SO32- (aq) + 2MnO4- (aq) + 6H+ (aq) → 5SO42- (aq) + 2Mn2+ (aq) + 3H2O (l)

Finally, we balance the remaining elements:

5H2O (l) + 5SO32- (aq) + 2MnO4- (aq) + 6H+ (aq) → 5SO42- (aq) + 2Mn2+ (aq) + CO2 (g) + 8H2O (l)

The sum of the coefficients is 33.

Balance the Following Oxidation-Reduction Reaction in Acid Solution