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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. mfg says:

    i hate this, would recommend to my worst enemy

  2. Caylan says:

    this site sucks actual ass. it keeps saying that its not in the correct format and elements need to be with an ion. i have no idea what that means. i will never ever be using this site or anything on it again. sorry if i hurt peoples feelings but this sucks.

  3. It works perfectly you just need brains to put in the correct format

    1. Ikr all these ppl saying it dont work lmao put in some effort come on its balancing the whole equation for u

    2. Louis XVI says:

      OK maybe its not perfect but it works in most cases, if it doesn’t work for ur reaction just use WolframAlpha LOL

  4. Chem Student says:

    This doesn’t work. Whatever the format it wants won’t function when I type it in, and I made sure it was correct

  5. Rik says:

    Mf chemistry

  6. Jo says:

    Good

  7. Kimberly I Perez says:

    Having a hard time balancing

    1. Hugh Anus says:

      it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo easy

  8. Tyler King says:

    this sukz

    1. u sukz this helped me in my chem exam i couldnt be more grateful.

  9. Sunila Sharma says:

    NO IT DOESN”T LOL

    1. Hugh Anus says:

      lol its easy