Multiple Choice
Which type of battery utilizes the redox reaction Zn(s) + 2 MnO2(s) → ZnO(s) + Mn2O3(s)?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Redox Reactions
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In a balanced chemical equation for a redox reaction, do free electrons appear on either side of the equation?
A
Yes, free electrons always appear on the product side.
B
No, free electrons do not appear in the balanced equation.
C
Yes, free electrons can appear on both sides of the equation.
D
Yes, free electrons always appear on the reactant side.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that in a balanced redox reaction, the overall equation represents the net chemical change, combining both oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
Recall that free electrons are used in the half-reactions to balance charge during oxidation and reduction processes separately, but they are not present as free species in the overall balanced equation.
Recognize that when the half-reactions are combined to form the full redox equation, the electrons lost in oxidation are gained in reduction, so they cancel out and do not appear in the final balanced equation.
Therefore, free electrons do not appear on either side of the overall balanced redox equation because the electrons are internal to the electron transfer process between reactants.
Conclude that the correct understanding is: free electrons do not appear in the balanced overall redox equation.
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