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Balancing Redox Reactions

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A reaction in which a reducing agent loses electrons while it is oxidized and the oxidizing agent gains electrons while it is reduced is called a redox (oxidation-reduction) reaction. This calculator helps you balance unbalanced redox reactions, ensuring the conservation of mass and charge. It’s especially useful for students, chemists, and anyone studying electrochemical reactions.

Balancing Redox Reactions

Input Fields
Use ^ for charges, + to separate species, = for the reaction arrow. Example: Cr2O7^2- + H^+ + e^- = Cr^3+ + H2O
If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.

Redox Balancing Formula Explanation

Formula
\[\text{Oxidation: Fe}^{2+} \rightarrow \text{Fe}^{3+} + e^-\]\[\text{Reduction: MnO}_4^- + 5e^- + 8\text{H}^+ \rightarrow \text{Mn}^{2+} + \text{H}_2\text{O}\]

To balance a redox reaction:

  1. Split the reaction into half-reactions (oxidation and reduction).
  2. Balance atoms other than O and H.
  3. Balance O with H₂O and H with H⁺ (or OH⁻ in basic medium).
  4. Balance charges by adding electrons.
  5. Equalize electron transfer and combine half-reactions.


Redox reactions are a combination of oxidation (loss of electrons) and reduction (gain of electrons). This calculator allows you to input unbalanced redox reactions and automatically balance them, accounting for both atoms and charges.

How to use:

Enter your unbalanced redox reaction in the following format:

Cr2O7^2- + H^+ + e^- = Cr^3+ + H2O

  • Use + for separating species.
  • Use ^ to indicate charges, e.g., Fe^2+, MnO4^-, H^+, SO4^2-.
  • Use = as the reaction arrow.
  • Include e^- for electrons in half-reactions (optional for full reactions).

💡 The calculator supports:

  • Ions and charges
  • Acidic or basic media detection
  • Half-reactions and full redox reactions
  • Formatting with subscripts and superscripts in output

Ideal for chemistry students, educators, and professionals working with redox systems.

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38 thoughts on “Balancing Redox Reactions

  1. Sunila Sharma. says:

    Hi guys. WHY DOES THIS NOT WORK! I AM TRYING TO TORTURE MY FUCKING STUDENTS!!!!

  2. Sunila Sharma. says:

    This does not fucking work at all.

    1. You don’t work at all

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  6. roman says:

    virgo

  7. Ritik says:

    WORK CORRECTLY WITH Cl2O7+H2O2=ClO2^-+O2+H^+

  8. jaffleck says:

    H^++MnO4^-+C2O4^2-=Mn^2++CO2+H2O      (another example)

  9. jaffleck says:

    works fine… you just have to enter it correctly for example … OH^-+CH3OH+MnO4^-=CO3^2-+MnO4^2-+H2O

  10. billy bob says:

    this doesnt work at all