If purple spheres represent iodine atoms, white spheres represent hydrogen atoms, and all the molecules are gases,

b. write a balanced equation for the reaction.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Analyze the image. The left side represents the reactants, showing molecules composed of purple spheres (iodine atoms) bonded to white spheres (hydrogen atoms). The right side represents the products, showing separate diatomic iodine molecules (I₂) and diatomic hydrogen molecules (H₂).
2. Step 2: Identify the chemical species involved. The reactants are hydrogen iodide (HI), and the products are iodine (I₂) and hydrogen (H₂).
3. Step 3: Write the unbalanced chemical equation based on the visual representation: HI → I₂ + H₂.
4. Step 4: Balance the equation. Ensure the number of iodine and hydrogen atoms is the same on both sides of the equation. Since there are two HI molecules in the reactants, the balanced equation becomes: 2HI → I₂ + H₂.
5. Step 5: Verify the balanced equation by counting atoms on both sides. Reactants have 2 iodine atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms, and products also have 2 iodine atoms (in I₂) and 2 hydrogen atoms (in H₂), confirming the equation is balanced.

Key Concepts

Chemical Reaction

A chemical reaction involves the transformation of reactants into products through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. In this context, the reactants are iodine and hydrogen gases, which combine to form a new substance. Understanding the nature of the reactants and products is essential for writing a balanced chemical equation.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation, adhering to the law of conservation of mass. This process involves adjusting coefficients in front of the chemical formulas to achieve balance. For the given reaction, it is crucial to determine the correct stoichiometric coefficients for iodine and hydrogen.

Molecular Representation

Molecular representation uses symbols or models to depict the structure and composition of molecules. In this scenario, purple spheres represent iodine atoms and white spheres represent hydrogen atoms. Understanding how these representations correspond to actual molecules aids in visualizing the reaction and helps in accurately writing the balanced equation.