Question

Lana balanced an equation so that the result was 2C2H3Br + 5O2 → 4CO2 + 2H2O + 2HBr. Which most likely represents the starting equation?

Answer 1

Answer:

C2H3Br + O2 → CO2 + H2O + HBr

Explanation:

The term balancing of chemical reaction equation has a unique meaning in chemistry. What it actually means is to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the left hand side of reaction equation becomes equal to the number of atoms of the same element on the right hand side of the reaction equation.

When we look at the equation; C2H3Br + O2 → CO2 + H2O + HBr, the number of atoms of each element on the left and right hand sides of the given equation are not the same hence the equation is unbalanced.

If we look at the equation; 2C2H3Br + 5O2 → 4CO2 + 2H2O + 2HBr, the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the reaction equation are now equal, thus the later equation is the balanced version of the former.