There are following steps used-to balance a reaction taking place in basic medium by ion electron method :

Step I: Write the skeletal equation and indicate the oxidation number of all the elements.

Step II: Find out the species which are oxidised and which are reduced.

Step III: Split the equation in two half reactions i.e. oxidation half reaction and reduction half reaction

Step IV: Balance the two half reactions separately by using following steps :

(i) First of all, balance the atoms of the elements which have undergone a change in oxidation number

(ii) Add electrons to whatever side in necessary to make up the difference in oxidation number in each half reaction.

(iii) Balance change by adding OH^–.

(iv) Balance oxygen atoms by adding required number of H₂O molecules to the side deficient in O-atoms.

(v) H-atoms are balanced by adding H₂O molecules equal in number to the deficiency of H atoms and equal number of OH^– ions are included in opposite side of the equation.

Step V: The two half reactions are multiplied by suitable integers to balance the number of electrons. The half reaction, are then added up.