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Chapter 21: Q21.7P (page 972)

Are spectator ions used to balance the half-reactions of a redox reaction? At what stage might spectator ions enter the balancing process?

Short Answer

Expert verified

When a reaction is broken down into half-reactions, spectator ions are removed and then added back when the half-reactions are added after individual balancing.

Step by step solution

01

what is half-reaction

A redox reaction's half reaction is either the oxidation or reduction reaction component. The change in oxidation states of specific chemicals participating in the redox reaction is used to calculate a half-reaction.

02

Determining at which stage spectator ions might enter the balancing process

When a redox reaction is broken down into two half-reactions, any spectator ions are eliminated from the equations.

When the two half-reactions are joined together, any spectator ions that were eliminated from the equation are also included.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Comparing the standard electrode potentials (Eo)of the Group 1A(1)metalsLi, Na, and Kwith the negative of their first ionization energies reveals a discrepancy:

Ionization process reversed:M+(g) +e-⇌M(g) ( - IE)

Electrode reaction:M+(aq) +e-⇌M(s) (Eo)

Note that the electrode potentials do not decrease smoothly down the group, as the ionization energies do. You might expect that if it is more difficult to remove an electron from an atom to form a gaseous ion (largerIE), then it would be less difficult to add an electron to an aqueous ion to form an atom (smallerEo), yetLi+(aq)is more difficult to reduce thanNa+(aq). Applying Hess’s law, use an approach similar to that for a Born-Haber cycle to break down the process occurring at the electrode into three steps and label the energy involved in each step. How can you account for the discrepancy?

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(g) Suggest a solution for the cathode electrolyte.

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