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Ask a Chemistry Homework Question => AP Chemistry => Topic started by: Nathan on October 06, 2009, 05:58:12 AM



Title: half reaction method
Post by: Nathan on October 06, 2009, 05:58:12 AM
Pb+PbO2+H2SO4---> PbSO4  balance this with half reaction method


Title: Re: half reaction method
Post by: kingchemist on October 06, 2009, 06:23:06 AM
There are two reactions which fit the categories:
acid + metal ---> salt + hydrogen

and

acid + metal oxide ----> salt + water

Pb + H2SO4 ----> PbSO4 + H2
PbO2 + H2SO4 ----> PbSO4 + H2O this cannot be balanced.

I am also concerned with the chemicals involved in this reaction as PbSO4 is an insoluble salt and in the first reaction, some PbSO4 would be made as a coating and then the reaction would stop. The same would true with the second reaction. So effectively, there is virtually no reaction.