carbon monoxide is detected in air samples by its reaction with diiodine pentoxide to form carbon dioxide and elemental iodine. write the equation and balance it using the oxidation number method. Help me!! Im lost!

Question

taramgrant0543664 · Answer

So we can start off with writing an equation I'll write it in words before transferring it into the equation
To start we have carbon monoxide gas mixing with diodine pentoxide to make carbon dioxide and iodine in its elemental form (Note: iodine is one of the diatomic gases)
CO+I2O5 ---> CO2+I2
So next we will try to balance the equation. Normally you wait to balance hydrogen and oxygen until everything else is balanced (as you can add H2O to balance it) but in this case only the oxygens need to be balanced currently.
We have 6 oxygens on one side and 2 on the other, so if I put a 3 on the right side for the CO2 then my carbons will be off balanced and therefore the oxygens are off balanced so we need to find a new number.
5CO+I2O5 ---> 5CO2+I2 is the balanced equation