1. Identifying Half-Reactions:
* Oxidation Half-Reaction: H2O2 → O2 + 2H+ + 2e-
* Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is oxidized to oxygen gas (O2).
* Reduction Half-Reaction: MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- → Mn2+ + 4H2O
* Permanganate ion (MnO4-) is reduced to manganese(II) ion (Mn2+).
2. Balancing the Number of Electrons:
* Multiply the oxidation half-reaction by 5 and the reduction half-reaction by 2 to equalize the number of electrons transferred:
* 5H2O2 → 5O2 + 10H+ + 10e-
* 2MnO4- + 16H+ + 10e- → 2Mn2+ + 8H2O
3. Combining the Half-Reactions:
* Add the two balanced half-reactions together. Note that the electrons cancel out:
* 5H2O2 + 2MnO4- + 16H+ + 10e- → 5O2 + 10H+ + 10e- + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O
4. Simplifying the Equation:
* Cancel out the common terms on both sides:
* 5H2O2 + 2MnO4- + 6H+ → 5O2 + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O
Complete Redox Reaction:
The complete balanced redox reaction for the reaction of permanganate ion (MnO4-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in acidic solution is:
5H2O2 + 2MnO4- + 6H+ → 5O2 + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O