[y0ter]

I have a question regarding an equation that I came across in my textbook.

H₄⁺ + SO₄^2- + 2NaI ---> 2Na⁺ + I₂ + SO₂ + > 2H₂O

Clearly the above is balanced; however, I am having difficulty understanding  the presence of 4 protons when there is only one sulfate ion available.  The protons are availble in the solution due to the dissociation of Sulfuric acid...would this not only contribute 2 protons to the solution?

Also, when balancing redox equations is it necessary to balance the transferred electrons and apply the coefficients first?  or is it possible to balance the equation as a whole without accounting for the electrons?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Borek]

I have a question regarding an equation that I came across in my textbook.

H₄⁺ + SO₄^2- + 2NaI ---> 2Na⁺ + I₂ + SO₂ + > 2H₂O

Clearly the above is balanced; however, I am having difficulty understanding  the presence of 4 protons when there is only one sulfate ion available.

That's just net ionic equation. Compare it with equivalent form:

2H₂SO₄ + 2NaI -> Na₂SO₄ + I₂ + SO₂ + 2H₂O

Also, when balancing redox equations is it necessary to balance the transferred electrons and apply the coefficients first?  or is it possible to balance the equation as a whole without accounting for the electrons?

Quite often it is enough to balance the equation without looking at the electron transfer. But you must balance not only mass (same number of atoms on both sides of the equation) but also a charge (note that in your equation charge on both sides of equation is -2 - so it is balanced).

[y0ter]

Ah, now it makes sense.  Thank you.