Partial equation method for balancing:
- When a chemical equation has a large number of reactants and products and cannot be balanced using the hit-and-trial method, this method is applied.
- The total reaction is considered to occur via two or more two simpler reactions that can be expressed using partial equations.
- Each partial equation is balanced by the hit and trial method.
- These balanced partial equations are multiplied with suitable coefficients to cancel out substances that are not present in the overall reaction.
- Now these, balanced partial equations are added to get the chemical reaction.
The reaction of Potassium dichromate in Acidic medium:
- Potassium dichromate is a good oxidizing agent in the acidic medium as it changes the oxidation state of Chromium .
Step 1: Writing the basic equation
Removing all the common ions present and separating them into two ionic reactions,
we get, and
Step 2: Balancing all the atoms except Hydrogen and oxygen
Step 3: Balancing oxygen atom
We add Water molecules for balancing Oxygen, and we get
Step 4: Balancing hydrogen atom
We add Hydrogen ions to balance the Hydrogen atom.
Step 5: Balancing the charge
Adding electrons to the side to balance the charge
Step 6: Balancing electrons
For balancing electrons we have to multiply the second reaction by what we get,
Step 7: Adding two half-reactions
Adding two half-reactions, to subtract water molecules, Hydrogen ions, and electrons. We get,
Step 8: Replacing the spectator ions
Adding Potassium ion and Sulfate ion we get,
Therefore, the balance equation is