Inactive Tutor answered 04/30/23
To balance the given equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation.
First, we write the oxidation half-reaction and reduction half-reaction:
Oxidation half-reaction: As → H2AsO-4 + 4H+ + 4e-
Reduction half-reaction: Zn(OH)4^2- + 4e- → Zn + 4OH-
Next, we balance the half-reactions:
Oxidation half-reaction: As + 4OH- → H2AsO-4 + 4H2O + 4e-
Reduction half-reaction: Zn(OH)4^2- + 4e- → Zn + 4OH-
Now, we balance the number of electrons transferred in each half-reaction by multiplying the oxidation half-reaction by 4:
4As + 16OH- → 4H2AsO-4 + 16H2O + 16e-
Zn(OH)4^2- + 4e- → Zn + 4OH-
Finally, we can add the two half-reactions together and cancel out any common species to obtain the balanced equation:
4As + Zn(OH)4^2- + 16OH- → Zn + 4H2AsO-4 + 16H2O
Therefore, the balanced equation for the reaction in basic solution is:
4As + Zn(OH)4^2- + 16OH- → Zn + 4H2AsO-4 + 16H2O.