[rhetorics]

Ok I have a LAB tomorrow and just a little confused. All that I"m asked is "Balance this equation". I'm not sure if it means balance the redox equation or molecular.

I'm given the reactants:
Oxalic Acid, and Potassium Permanganate.

(COOH)2 + KMnO4 -->
I'm also told that (COOH)2 is oxidized to CO2, and MnO4(-) is reduced to Mn(+2)

I came up with:
(COOH)2 + KMnO4  --> H2MnO4 + KC2O4 assuming its doube-replacement.
This makes sense to me as far as a molecular equation, but now Mn wasn't oxidized or reduced... which I know should have been reduced. It's at this point - I'm stuck.

Unfortunately... I'm not allowed into LAB tomorrow if this isn't balanced. Did I mention its a LAB exam? If I'm not let in, I fail the lab exam, and in turn - fail the course. My grade depends on this question lol - I know how to do everything else for tomorrow. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm gonna go try and work on this a bit more.

Thanks

[AWK]

Add H2SO4 to this reaction