Question

Question #c3e76

Answer 1

`2Cu^(2+) + SO_3^(2-) +2HO^(-)rarr 2Cu^(+) + SO_4^(2-)+H_2O`

Explanation:

`"Oxidation:"`

`stackrel(+IV)SO_3^(2-) +H_2O rarr stackrel(+VI)SO_4^(2-)+2H^+ + 2e^(-)`

`"Reduction:"`

`Cu^(2+) +e^(-) rarr Cu^(+)`

And thus.............

`2Cu^(2+) + SO_3^(2-) +H_2O rarr 2Cu^(+) + SO_4^(2-)+2H^+`

But BASIC solution was specified, and so we simply add `2xxHO^(-)` to BOTH SIDES of the equation:

`2Cu^(2+) + SO_3^(2-) +cancel(H_2O) +2HO^(-)rarr 2Cu^(+) + SO_4^(2-)+cancel(2)H_2O`

To give,.........

`2Cu^(2+) + SO_3^(2-) +2HO^(-)rarr 2Cu^(+) + SO_4^(2-)+H_2O`

Which looks balanced to me. Whether it represents an actual redox process is moot.