To determine the total energy change of the reaction, you can use the formula:
\[ \Delta H = E_{\text{products}} - E_{\text{reactants}} \]
From the information given:
- Energy of the reactants (H₂ + I₂) = 581 kJ/mol
- Energy of the products (2HI) = 590 kJ/mol
Substituting these values in:
\[ \Delta H = 590 , \text{kJ/mol} - 581 , \text{kJ/mol} = 9 , \text{kJ/mol} \]
Since the value of \(\Delta H\) is positive (+9 kJ/mol), the reaction absorbs energy from the surroundings, indicating it is an endothermic reaction.
So the answer is: 9 kJ/mol, endothermic.