Question

Please show all work!

Balance the following reaction in a basic solution:

Ag(s)+Zn^2+(aq)--->Ag2O(aq)+Zn(s)

Answer 1

Balance Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) ? Ag2O(aq) + Zn(s) in basic conditions.
Go through all the same steps as if it was in acidic conditions.
1 Separate the half-reactions.
Ag(s) ? Ag2O(aq)
Zn2+(aq) ? Zn(s).
2 Balance elements other than O and H.
2Ag(s) ? Ag2O(aq)
Zn2+(aq) ? Zn(s).
3 Add H2O to balance oxygen.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) ? Ag2O(aq)
Zn2+(aq) ? Zn(s).
4 Balance hydrogen with protons.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) ? Ag2O(aq) + 2H+
(aq)
Zn2+(aq) ? Zn(s).
5 Balance the charge with e-
.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) ? Ag2O(aq) + 2H+
(aq) + 2eZn2+(aq)
+ 2e- ? Zn(s).
6 Scale the reactions so that they have an equal amount of electrons. In this
case, it is already done.
7 Add the reactions and cancel the electrons.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) ? Zn(s) + Ag2O(aq) + 2H+
(aq).
8 Add OH to
balance H+
. There are 2 net protons in this equation, so add 2
OHions
to each side.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-
(aq) ? Zn(s) + Ag2O(aq) + 2H+
(aq) +
2OH-
(aq).
9 Combine OHions
and H+
ions that are present on the same side to form
water.
H2O(l) + 2Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-
(aq) ? Zn(s) + Ag2O(aq) + 2H2O(l).
10 Cancel common terms.
2Ag(s) + Zn2+(aq) + 2OH-
(aq) ? Zn(s) + Ag2O(aq) + H2O(l).