Assign a 0 if the other atom is a carbon atom. Each double bond counts as two charges and a triple bond counts as three charges. Then sum up the numbers on carbon. This will be the oxidation number. Some examples are given below.
Balance atoms other than hydrogen and oxygen.
Determine the oxidation number on each carbon that is undergoing a change. Count the total number of electrons being transferred for the carbons. Determine the number of electrons being transferred for the other species. Multiply by factors to make the total number of electrons the same. Balance oxygens by adding H 2 O to the side needing more oxygen atoms.