Chemistry Question?
In a redox reaction, why does when Li and Zn2+ react, the complete reaction = 2Li + Zn2+ --> 2Li+ + Zn
I thought it would be Li + Zn2+ ---> Li+ + 2Zn, am I not balancing a redox reaction correctly?
Answer:
that's because there's something missing in the equation i.e. electrons (e-)
2 Li -----> 2 Li+ and 2 e- (each Li gave out 1 electron)
Zn2+ and 2 e- ---------> Zn ( Zn took in the 2 electrons and got reduced)
since electron is at both side of the equation, it's not written out usually but as the ionic equation,
2 Li and Zn2+ --------> 2 Li+ and Zn
It can not be the equation you thought as that is not a balanced chemical equation-you have one zinc mole yeilding two zinc moles. The first equation is correct as two electrons from Li are transferred to Zn, making both elements neutrally charged.
Edit: I made an error at the end of my answer. Two electrons are transferred from Li to Zn, making Zn neutrally charged and Li +1 charge.
Correct. Regardless of which type of reaction it is, both sides must balance.
Love,
Poopidoopulous
The electron change has to balance. Li loses 1 electron to go from 0 to +1 oxidation number. Zn gains 2 electrons going from +2 to 0 oxidation number. The 2 electrons that Zn gains have to come from Li and since each Li loses just 1 electron, 2 Li are required.
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I thought it would be Li + Zn2+ ---> Li+ + 2Zn, am I not balancing a redox reaction correctly?
Answer:
that's because there's something missing in the equation i.e. electrons (e-)
2 Li -----> 2 Li+ and 2 e- (each Li gave out 1 electron)
Zn2+ and 2 e- ---------> Zn ( Zn took in the 2 electrons and got reduced)
since electron is at both side of the equation, it's not written out usually but as the ionic equation,
2 Li and Zn2+ --------> 2 Li+ and Zn
It can not be the equation you thought as that is not a balanced chemical equation-you have one zinc mole yeilding two zinc moles. The first equation is correct as two electrons from Li are transferred to Zn, making both elements neutrally charged.
Edit: I made an error at the end of my answer. Two electrons are transferred from Li to Zn, making Zn neutrally charged and Li +1 charge.
Correct. Regardless of which type of reaction it is, both sides must balance.
Love,
Poopidoopulous
The electron change has to balance. Li loses 1 electron to go from 0 to +1 oxidation number. Zn gains 2 electrons going from +2 to 0 oxidation number. The 2 electrons that Zn gains have to come from Li and since each Li loses just 1 electron, 2 Li are required.
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