Question

Complete and balance the following half-reaction: mN₂ (aq) → MnO₂(s) (basic solution). Express your answer as a chemical equation and identify all of the phases in your answer.

Answer 1

To balance the given half-reaction mN₂ (aq) → MnO₂(s) (basic solution), follow the stepwise process: balance non-hydrogen and non-oxygen atoms, balance oxygen atoms by adding water, and balance hydrogen atoms by adding hydroxide ions. The balanced equation is mN₂ (aq) + 4OH⁻(aq) → MnO₂(s) + 2H₂O(l).

Step-by-step explanation:

To balance the half-reaction mN₂ (aq) → MnO₂(s) (basic solution), we need to follow the stepwise process of the half-reaction method.

1. First, balance the non-hydrogen and non-oxygen atoms. In this case, there are already an equal number of nitrogen atoms on both sides. On the oxygen side, there are 2 oxygen atoms in MnO₂.
2. Next, balance the oxygen atoms by adding water molecules to the side lacking oxygen. In this case, add 4 water molecules to the left side: mN₂ (aq) + 4H₂O(l) → MnO₂(s).
3. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms by adding hydrogen ions (H⁺) to the side lacking hydrogen. In basic solution, hydrogen ions are replaced by hydroxide ions (OH⁻). The final balanced equation is: mN₂ (aq) + 4OH⁻(aq) → MnO₂(s) + 2H₂O(l).

The phases in the balanced equation are:

mN₂ (aq) + 4OH⁻(aq) → MnO₂(s) + 2H₂O(l)

Where (aq) represents an aqueous solution and (s) represents a solid.