Balance the following redox reaction if it occurs in acidic solution. What are the coefficients in front of H2C2O4 and H2O in the balanced reaction?

MnO4⁻(aq) + H2C2O4(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + CO2(g)

Question

Balance the following redox reaction if it occurs in acidic solution. What are the coefficients in front of H2C2O4 and H2O in the balanced reaction?

MnO4⁻(aq) + H2C2O4(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + CO2(g)

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

MnO4^- is reduced to Mn2+ and oxalic acid (H2C2O4) is oxidized to CO2. Use half-reactions in acidic solution.

Relevant concepts:
- Split into oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
- Balance atoms (other than H and O), then O with H2O, H with H+, and charge with electrons.
- Multiply half-reactions to equalize electrons, then add and simplify.

Step-by-step half-reaction balancing:
1) Reduction (permanganate → Mn2+):
MnO4^- + 8 H+ + 5 e- → Mn2+ + 4 H2O
(oxygen balanced by 4 H2O, H balanced by 8 H+, charge balanced by adding 5 e-)

2) Oxidation (oxalic acid → CO2). One H2C2O4 yields two CO2:
H2C2O4 → 2 CO2 + 2 H+ + 2 e-
( C: 2 → 2; O: 4 → 4; H: 2 → 2 H+; net charge balanced by 2 e- on product side)

3) Equalize electrons: LCM of 5 and 2 is 10. Multiply reduction half-reaction by 2 and oxidation half-reaction by 5:
Reduction ×2:
2 MnO4^- + 16 H+ + 10 e- → 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O

Oxidation ×5:
5 H2C2O4 → 10 CO2 + 10 H+ + 10 e-

4) Add the two half-reactions; electrons cancel. Combine H+ terms:
Left H+: 16 H+ (from reduction)
Right H+: 10 H+ (from oxidation) → subtract 10 H+ from both sides leaving 6 H+ on left.

Net balanced equation:
2 MnO4^- + 6 H+ + 5 H2C2O4 → 2 Mn2+ + 8 H2O + 10 CO2

Check: atoms and charge balanced (left and right both neutral if included spectator charges correctly for overall ionic equation).

Why the correct option is correct:
- The net equation shows 5 H2C2O4 molecules are consumed and 8 H2O are produced; therefore H2C2O4 coefficient = 5 and H2O coefficient = 8.

Why other choices are incorrect:
- Options with smaller coefficients (1, 3, etc.) fail to balance electrons and atoms (C, O, H) simultaneously; they do not satisfy the 5-electron / 2-electron stoichiometry needed to cancel electrons.
- Any option not giving H2C2O4 = 5 and H2O = 8 produces unmatched charge or atom counts.

Final confirmation: H2C2O4 = 5, H2O = 8, which matches the provided correct answer.

Balance the following redox reaction if it occurs in acidic solution. What are the coefficients in front of H2C2O4 and H2O in the balanced reaction? MnO4⁻(aq) + H2C2O4(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + CO2(g)单项选择题

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