Question

Balance the following half reaction in acidic solution:

MCO₃ → MCH₄⁺
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When batancing this reaction _____ electrons are needed on the side _____of the reaction.

Answer 1

In the half reaction MCO₃ → MCH₄⁺, the exact number of electrons needed to balance the equation in an acidic solution depends on the specific metal M, and they are added on the reactant side for reduction and product side for oxidation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When balancing the half reaction MCO₃ → MCH₄⁺ in an acidic solution, it is necessary to balance the charge by adding electrons. In the reduction half-reaction, electrons are added on the reactant side, while in the oxidation reaction, they appear on the product side.

As in the example provided, for the oxidation half-reaction of Mg to Mg²⁺, two electrons are added on the product side to balance the charges. Similarly, in the case of reduction, such as Cl₂ to 2 Cl⁻, electrons are added to the reactant side of the half-reaction.