[Line]

having a problem with this

need to solve and balance

I thought the answer was
2KMnO4 + 3C6H8O6 ? 2KOH + 3C6H6O6 + 2MnO2 + 2H2O
But my teacher said no and refused to help me

Think it might be something like this
KMnO4 + C6H8O6  = K+ + C6H6O6 + Mn2+ + H2O
because he told me i was going to have Mn2 and C6H6O6 in the end

Can someone help me..?

[Borek]

1. Go net ionic.

2. What is C₆H₈O₆? It can be everything, and oxidation can lead to all kinds of substances.

[Line]

1. Go net ionic.

2. What is C₆H₈O₆? It can be everything.

Ascorbic acid is an acid with antioxidant properties. Its appearance is white to light yellow crystals or powder. It is water soluble. The L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid is commonly known as vitamin C

[Borek]

Google net ionic equation.

Note that molecular formula you gave doesn't give information about compound structure - and you haven't named ascorbic acid in your first post.

Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acid for oxidation details.

But the truth is that question - as posted - is ambiguous. Depending on the solution pH you may end with Mn²⁺, MnO₂ or MnO₄^2-, also products of oxidation are not clear - it can be dehydroascorbic acid, but IMHO in acidic solution it can be just CO₂ and water.