Re: What are the two half reactions for the decomposition of potassium nitrate

The reactions can be seen on one webpage.
 http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/fireworks/fireworks.htm

The half reactions are sone the same way, just not H+,OH-,H2O needed in 
this case.  In reactions like acid rain and pollution, you do involve 
those, but here your are heating these at high temperature. Also, all 
species appear in both half reactions in a shorthand form of half-
reactions, because there is no water.  Water solutions are really needed 
to do half reactions.  For example

ClO3- = Cl- + O2  (Drop the K's)

ClO3- + 6e = Cl- + 3/2O2 (Cl reaction)

ClO3- =  Cl- + 3/2O2 + 6e- (O reaction)

2ClO3- = 2Cl- + 3O2  (total reaction)



Do non-water reactions by the oxidation state method, it is easier.

ClO3- = Cl- + O2   Do simple balance

2ClO3- = 2Cl- + 3O2

Cl change +10 total to -2 total  12 electron change
O change -12 total to 0 total    12 electron change

So it is balanced by both electrons and elements

Most simple non-water solutions work with just a simple balance since 
there are few species present, but they can get extremely complicated 
where they are not simple balanced.
 http://books.google.com/books?
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