Consider the following intermediate chemical equations:
[tex]
\begin{array}{l}
C(s)+\frac{1}{2} O_2(g) \rightarrow CO(g) \
CO(g)+\frac{1}{2} O_2(g) \rightarrow CO_2(g)
\end{array}
[/tex]
How will oxygen appear in the final chemical equation?
A. [tex]O _2(g)[/tex] as a product
B. [tex]O _2(g)[/tex] as a reactant
C. [tex]O ( g )[/tex] as a product.
D. [tex]2 O ( g )[/tex] as a reactant
Answer (2)
Add the two chemical equations together.
Cancel out any common terms on both sides of the resulting equation.
Combine the oxygen terms.
Determine that O 2 ( g ) appears as a reactant in the final equation: O 2 ( g ) as a reactant .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given two chemical equations:
C ( s ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) → CO ( g )
CO ( g ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) → C O 2 ( g )
Our goal is to determine how oxygen appears in the final chemical equation after combining these two equations.
Adding the Equations To find the final chemical equation, we add the two given equations together: C ( s ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) + CO ( g ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) → CO ( g ) + C O 2 ( g )
Canceling Common Terms Now, we simplify the equation by canceling out any common terms on both sides. In this case, CO ( g ) appears on both sides, so we can cancel it out: C ( s ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) → C O 2 ( g )
Combining Oxygen Terms Next, we combine the oxygen terms: 2 1 O 2 ( g ) + 2 1 O 2 ( g ) = 1 O 2 ( g ) = O 2 ( g ) So the equation becomes: C ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) → C O 2 ( g )
Final Answer In the final equation, O 2 ( g ) appears as a reactant on the left side of the equation. C ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) → C O 2 ( g ) Therefore, oxygen appears as a reactant in the final chemical equation.
Examples
In the process of combustion, such as burning wood or fuel, oxygen from the air reacts with the carbon-based material to produce carbon dioxide. This chemical equation helps us understand that oxygen is a necessary reactant for the combustion process to occur, highlighting its role in energy production and various industrial applications. For example, in power plants, the efficient reaction between fuel and oxygen is crucial for generating electricity.
In the final equation, oxygen appears as O 2 ( g ) on the left side, meaning it is a reactant. Therefore, the correct answer is option B: O 2 ( g ) as a reactant. By combining the intermediate equations and simplifying, we determine the role of oxygen in the overall reaction.
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