Concept:
This is a redox reaction occurring in acidic medium. To balance such reactions accurately, we use the
ion-electron method (also known as the oxidation number method). The key idea is that the total number of electrons lost during oxidation must be equal to the total number of electrons gained during reduction.
We first identify the oxidation and reduction half-reactions and then combine them appropriately.
Step 1: Identify the species undergoing oxidation and reduction.
The reactants are:
\[
MnO_4^-, \quad I^-, \quad H^+
\]
The products are:
\[
Mn^{2+}, \quad IO_3^-, \quad H_2O
\]
For manganese:
\[
MnO_4^-
\]
Oxidation state of Mn:
\[
x+4(-2)=-1
\]
\[
x-8=-1
\]
\[
x=+7
\]
In the product:
\[
Mn^{2+}
\]
Oxidation state = \(+2\).
Thus manganese undergoes reduction:
\[
Mn^{+7}\rightarrow Mn^{+2}
\]
Gain in electrons:
\[
5e^-
\]
Therefore, each permanganate ion gains \(5\) electrons.
Step 2: Determine oxidation of iodide ion.
For iodide:
\[
I^- \rightarrow IO_3^-
\]
Oxidation state of iodine in \(I^-\):
\[
-1
\]
Oxidation state of iodine in \(IO_3^-\):
\[
x+3(-2)=-1
\]
\[
x-6=-1
\]
\[
x=+5
\]
Thus iodine changes from
\[
-1 \rightarrow +5
\]
Increase in oxidation number:
\[
6
\]
Hence each iodide ion loses
\[
6e^-
\]
during oxidation.
Step 3: Write the half-reactions.
Reduction half-reaction:
\[
MnO_4^- + 8H^+ + 5e^-
\rightarrow
Mn^{2+}+4H_2O
\]
Oxidation half-reaction:
\[
I^-+3H_2O
\rightarrow
IO_3^-+6H^++6e^-
\]
Step 4: Equalize the electrons exchanged.
The reduction half-reaction involves
\[
5e^-
\]
while the oxidation half-reaction involves
\[
6e^-.
\]
The least common multiple of \(5\) and \(6\) is
\[
30.
\]
Therefore,
Multiply the reduction half-reaction by \(6\):
\[
6MnO_4^- +48H^+ +30e^-
\rightarrow
6Mn^{2+}+24H_2O
\]
Multiply the oxidation half-reaction by \(5\):
\[
5I^-+15H_2O
\rightarrow
5IO_3^-+30H^++30e^-
\]
Step 5: Add the two balanced half-reactions.
Adding and cancelling electrons:
\[
6MnO_4^-+5I^-+18H^+
\rightarrow
6Mn^{2+}+5IO_3^-+9H_2O
\]
Thus the balanced equation is:
\[
6MnO_4^-+5I^-+18H^+
\rightarrow
6Mn^{2+}+5IO_3^-+9H_2O
\]
Step 6: Determine the required ratio.
Comparing with
\[
xMnO_4^- + yI^- + zH^+
\rightarrow
pMn^{2+}+qIO_3^-+rH_2O
\]
we obtain:
\[
x=6
\]
and
\[
y=5.
\]
Therefore,
\[
x:y=6:5
\]
Hence,
\[
\boxed{6:5}
\]