Step 1 Separate two half-reactions Oxidation half (O.H.) C2O42−⟶CO2 Reduction half (R.H.) MnO4−⟶Mn2+ Step 2 Balance all the atoms except oxygen and 'H'. O.H. C2O42−⟶2CO2 R.H. MnO4−⟶Mn2+ Step 3 Balance 'O' by adding H2O and ' H′ by adding H+. O.H. C2O42−⟶2CO2 R.H. 8H++MnO4−⟶Mn2++4H2O Step 4 Balance charge by adding electron O.H C2O42−⟶2CO2+2e− R.H. 5e−+8H++MnO4−⟶Mn2++4H2O Step 5 Balance electron by multiplying O.H. by '5' and R.H. by ' 2 '. O.H. 5C2O42−⟶10CO2+10e− R.H. 10e−+16H++2MnO4−⟶2Mn2++8H2O Step 6 Add both half-reaction