Write the balanced half-reactions for the following:
H2(g) + I2(s) --- HI(aq)

How are the charges moving? I'm confused because H2 and I2 are neutral. :P Do I need to balance the equation before writing my half-reaction equations?

Question

Write the balanced half-reactions for the following:
H2(g) + I2(s) ---> HI(aq)

How are the charges moving? I'm confused because H2 and I2 are neutral. :P Do I need to balance the equation before writing my half-reaction equations?

zale101 · Answer

How many atoms does Hydrogen and iodine have in the reactants?

ericwise · Answer

2 per element, so does the equation simply become the following?
H2(g) + I2(s) ---> 2HI(aq)

ericwise · Answer

@Zale101 Is this the proper balanced form? ^^

zale101 · Answer

Correct

ericwise · Answer

awesome, so what about the elements in the reactant side, are they 2+ and 2- respectively?

aaronq · Answer

Balancing half-reactions involves a bit more than just balancing atoms, because there is an exchange of electrons, it is a redox process.

What you should begin to do is to assign oxidation states/numbers to all the species present.

aaronq · Answer

I saw this example posted earlier, take a look http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/54d6ff62e4b083f72f2911b5 (hope it doesnt confuse you as it's more complicated than your example)

ericwise · Answer

ok