Basic Solution:
Separate the reaction into two half-reactions.
Balance each half-reaction separately:
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Balance atoms other than O & H by inspection.
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Balance O by adding H2O to the opposite side.
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Balance H by addding H+ as appropriate.
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Balance the charge by adding electrons (e-) - add to same side as excess of positive charge, or opposite side if excess negative charge.
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Balance the charges of the two half-reactions by multiplying appropriately.
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Balance as in acid, then:
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Add enough OH- (equal numbers to both sides) to cancel the H+. (This is necessary because there will not be protons present in a basic solution!). (There are a couple of other conventions for balancing in basic solutions. If you are familiar with another and prefer it, you may use it instead.)
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Combine the H+ and OH- on the appropriate side of the equation to give waters.
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Go back and cancel waters which appear on both sides to give the final equation.
© R A Paselk
Last modified 14 February 2011