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How to balance a chemical reaction using half reaction method?
Balancing of a chemical equation by half reaction method

Step 1 :  Write down oxidation numbers of the elements which appear in the given    skeleton equation .

Step 2  :  Identify the species getting oxidised and that getting reduced from the    oxidation numbers of the element(s)which occur in them .

Step  3    :  Split the whole equation into the two half -equations or half reactions, one for the oxidation while the other for reduction process .

Step 4  :  Balance both the half equations separately as follows :
(a) balance all atoms either than H and O .
(b) add  electrons to either side to balance the ionic charges .
(c) balance H  and O suitably adding H+ or H2O on the side as  required .

Step 5  :  Multiply one or both the half equations with  suitable factor so that the electrons are balanced .

Step 6  :  Add the two balanced and matched half equations to get the balanced equation for the overall reactions .


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