Question

Please help me equalize: PbO2 + MnSO4 + HNO3 = HMnO4 + PbSO4 + Pb(NO3)2 + H2O

Answer 1

Answer:

5PbO₂ + 2MnSO₄ + 6HNO₃ ⟶ 2PbSO₄ + 3Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2HMnO₄+ 2H₂O

Explanation:

PbO₂ + MnSO₄ + HNO₃ ⟶ HMnO₄ + PbSO₄ + Pb(NO₃)₂ + H₂O

It will be easiest to balance this equation by the ion-electron method.

1. Write the ionic equation

PbO₂ + Mn²⁺ + SO₄²⁻ + H⁺ + NO₃⁻ ⟶ H⁺ + MnO₄⁻ + Pb²⁺ + SO₄²⁻ + Pb²⁺ + NO₃⁻ + H₂O

2. Eliminate H⁺, H₂O, and spectator ions

PbO₂ + Mn²⁺ ⟶ MnO₄⁻ + Pb²⁺  

3. Separate the skeleton equation into two half-reactions.

PbO₂  ⟶ Pb²⁺  

Mn²⁺ ⟶ MnO₄⁻

4. Balance all atoms other than H and O

Done

5. Balance O by adding water molecules to the deficient side

           PbO₂  ⟶ Pb²⁺ + 2H₂O

Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O ⟶ MnO₄⁻

6. Balance H by adding H⁺ ions to the deficient side.

  PbO₂+ 4H⁺ ⟶ Pb²⁺ + 2H₂O

Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O ⟶ MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺

7. Balance charge by adding electrons to the deficient side.

PbO₂+ 4H⁺ + 2e⁻ ⟶ Pb²⁺ + 2H₂O

     Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O ⟶ MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ + 5e-

 

8. Multiply each half-reaction by a number to equalize the electrons transferred.

5 × [PbO₂+ 4H⁺ + 2e⁻ ⟶ Pb²⁺ + 2H₂O]

     2 × [Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O ⟶ MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ + 5e⁻]

9. Add the two half-reactions.

                          5PbO₂+ 20H⁺ + 10e⁻ ⟶ 5Pb²⁺ + 10H₂O

                                   2Mn²⁺ + 8H₂O ⟶ 2MnO₄⁻ + 16H⁺ + 10e⁻                    

5PbO₂ + 2Mn² + 8H₂O + 20H⁺ + 10e⁻⟶ 5Pb²⁺ + 2MnO₄⁻ + 10H₂O + 16H⁺ + 10e⁻

10. Cancel species that occur on each side of the equation

5PbO₂ + 2Mn² + 8H₂O + 20H⁺ + 10e⁻ ⟶ 5Pb²⁺ + 2MnO₄⁻ + 10H₂O + 16H⁺ + 10e⁻

becomes

5PbO₂ + 2Mn²⁺ + 4H⁺ ⟶ 5Pb²⁺ + 2MnO₄⁻ + 2H₂O

11. Add the missing spectator ions

5PbO₂ + 2Mn²⁺    + 4H⁺                              ⟶            5Pb²⁺   + 2MnO₄⁻ + 2H₂O

            + 2SO₄²⁻ + 4NO₃⁻ + 2H⁺ + 2NO₃⁻       +2SO₄²⁻ + 6NO₃⁻ + 2H⁺

becomes

5PbO₂ + 2MnSO₄ + 6HNO₃ ⟶ 2PbSO₄ + 3Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2HMnO₄ + 2H₂O

12. Check that all atoms are balanced.

$\begin{array}{ccc}\textbf{Atom} & \textbf{On the left} & \textbf{On the right}\\\text{Pb} & 5 & 5\\\text{O} & 36 & 36\\\text{S} & 2 & 2\\\text{H} & 6 & 6\\\text{N} & 6 & 6\\\end{array}$

Everything checks. The balanced equation is

5PbO₂ + 2MnSO₄ + 6HNO₃ ⟶ 2PbSO₄ + 3Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2HMnO₄ + 2H₂O