Do free electrons appear anywhere in the balanced equation for a redox reaction?

Yes, free electrons appear in balanced redox reaction equations. However, this is only true for half-reactions. This is because redox reactions primarily involve the transfer of electrons, which are better visualized if explicitly shown in the balanced reactions. In reduction reactions, electrons are placed on the left side of the equation. Oxidation reactions show electrons on the right side of the equation.

*Note: Overall redox reactions do not show free electrons because they cancel each other out from both sides of the half-reaction equations.

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