Balancing Redox Equations for Reactions in Basic Conditions Using the Half-reaction Method

Redox reactions are also commonly run in basic solution, in which case, the reaction equations
often include H
2
O(l) and OH

(aq). You may know the formulas for the reactants and products
for your reaction, but you may not know whether the H
2
O(l) and OH

(aq) are reactants or

products. For example, you may know that solid chromium(III) hydroxide, Cr(OH)
3
, reacts with
aqueous chlorate ions, ClO
3

, in basic conditions to form chromate ions, CrO

4
2
, and chloride
ions, Cl

. Because the reaction requires basic conditions, you assume that H

2
O(l) and OH

(aq)
participate in some way, but you do not know whether they are reactants or products, and you
do not know the coefficients for the reactants and products. An unbalanced equation for this
reaction might be written
Cr(OH)
3
(s) + ClO
3

( aq) CrO
4
2
(aq) + Cl

(aq) (basic)
The process for balancing a redox reaction run in basic solution is very similar to the steps for
balancing redox equations for acidic solutions. We first balance the equation as if it were in
acidic solution, and then we make corrections for the fact that it is really in basic solution.
Sample Study Sheet: Balancing Redox Equations Run in Basic Conditions Using the Half-
reaction Technique
Tip-off If you are asked to balance a redox equation and told that it takes place in a basic
solution, you can use the following procedure.
General Steps
Steps 1-7: Begin by balancing the equation as if it were in acid solution. If you have H
+
ions in
your equation at the end of these steps, proceed to Step 8. Otherwise, skip to Step 11.
Step 8: Add enough OH

ions to each side to cancel the H

+
ions. (Be sure to add the OH

ions to
both sides to keep the charge and atoms balanced.)
Step 9: Combine the H
+
ions and OH

ions that are on the same side of the equation to form

water.
Step 10: Cancel or combine the H
2
O molecules.
Step 11: Check to make sure that the atoms and the charge balance. If they do balance, you are
done. If they do not balance, re-check your work in Steps 1-10.



EXAMPLE Balancing Redox Reactions Using the Half-Reaction Method:
Balance the following redox equation using the half-reaction method.
Cr(OH)
3
(s) + ClO
3

(aq) CrO
4
2
(aq) + Cl

(aq) (basic)
Solution:
Step 1:
Cr(OH)
3
CrO
4
2

ClO
3

Cl

Step 2: (Not necessary for this example)
Cr(OH)
3
CrO
4
2

ClO
3

Cl

Step 3:
Cr(OH)
3
+ H
2
O CrO
4
2

ClO
3

Cl

+ 3H
2
O
Step 4:
Cr(OH)
3
+ H
2
O CrO
4
2
+ 5H
+

ClO
3

+ 6H
+
Cl

+ 3H
2
O
Step 5:
Cr(OH)
3
+ H
2
O CrO
4
2
+ 5H
+
+ 3e

ClO
3

+ 6H
+
+ 6e

Cl

+ 3H
2
O




Step 6:
2(Cr(OH)
3
+ H
2
O CrO
4
2
+ 5H
+
+ 3e

)
ClO
3

+ 6H
+
+ 6e

Cl

+ 3H
2
O
or
2Cr(OH)
3
+ 2H
2
O 2CrO
4
2
+ 10H
+
+ 6e

ClO
3

+ 6H
+
+ 6e

Cl

+ 3H
2
O

Step 7:
2Cr(OH)
3
(s) + ClO
3
-
(aq) 2CrO
4
2
(aq) + Cl

(aq) + H
2
O(l) + 4H
+
(aq)
Step 8: Because there are 4 H
+
on the right side of our equation above, we add 4 OH
-
to each
side of the equation.
2Cr(OH)
3
+ ClO
3

+ 4OH

2CrO
4
2
+ Cl

+ H
2
O + 4H
+
+ 4OH

Step 9: Combine the 4 H
+
ions and the 4 OH
-
ions on the right of the equation to form 4 H
2
O.
2Cr(OH)
3
+ ClO
3

+ 4OH
-
2CrO
4
2
+ Cl

+ H
2
O + 4H
2
O
Step 10: Cancel or combine the H
2
O molecules.
2Cr(OH)
3
(s) + ClO
3

(aq) + 4OH

(aq) 2CrO
4
2
(aq) + Cl

(aq) + 5H
2
O(l)
Step 11: The atoms in our equation balance, and the sum of the charges in each side is 5. Our
equation is balanced correctly.