Hi
Ive got problems with understanding redox reacions. Let's take a look at this reaction:
2KMnO4 + K2SO3 + 2KOH → 2K2MnO4 + K2SO4 + H2O
See, SO3 2- turns into SO4 2- so the oxidation number changes from 4 to 6 but amount of the valence electrons just doesn't change. But in half - reaction we write that it "loses" 2 electrons. Why and how this losing happens if valence electrons stay the same in SO3 2- and SO4 2-? Does anyone understand that?Please, help