question about balancing a reaction

[yuval12]

hi,

I was asked to balance this reaction : 

H3PO4(aq) + KMnO4(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → H3PO4(aq) + MnSO4(aq) + K2SO4(aq) + H2O(l)

can I get some help? why we cant balance this reaction? and what can we say about a reaction that has the same compound as a reagent and a product?

 

thank you

[studiot]

46 minutes ago, yuval12 said:

hi,

I was asked to balance this reaction : 

 

This must be homework ?

58 minutes ago, yuval12 said:

why we cant balance this reaction?

Is the reaction equation complete?

59 minutes ago, yuval12 said:

and what can we say about a reaction that has the same compound as a reagent and a product?

Such a compound has a special name do you know what it is  -  It begins with the letter C

[thinhphuvn]

This reaction I can not help balance, really complicated

[joigus]

Looks to me like a redox reaction that you have to balance by identifying how many electrons are transferred from what ion to what ion, and then accounting for H₂O ions depending on whether you are in an acid or basic solution. This is called the ion-electron balancing method.

The acid --in this case-- or the base in others, is there to tell you that you must balance by using protons.

Bases balance by using OH^- ions.

Is this homework?

Edited January 4, 2021 by joigus

[John Cuthber]

The reaction can not work.
It's impossible to balance it.

The electrons won't add up.

[joigus]

10 minutes ago, John Cuthber said:

The reaction can not work.
It's impossible to balance it.

The electrons won't add up.

Doh! You're right. Manganese can't take what's not there.

[studiot]

3 hours ago, joigus said:

Is this homework?

No it's now ancient history.

Check the OP date.

[joigus]

12 minutes ago, studiot said:

No it's now ancient history.

Check the OP date.

Oh, boy. I wish there were a filter for the really important questions. So much time wasted on the I'm-totally-confused user!  

Edited January 4, 2021 by joigus