Certainly! To determine which equation most likely represents the starting equation for the balance Lana achieved, we need to compare the reactants and products of each given equation to the balanced equation provided by Lana. The balanced equation given is:
[tex]\[2 \, C_2H_3Br + 5 \, O_2 \rightarrow 4 \, CO_2 + 2 \, H_2O + 2 \, HBr\][/tex]
Here are the four provided equations, which we'll check one-by-one to determine the starting equation.
1.
[tex]\[2 \, C_4H_3Br + 5 \, O_2 \rightarrow 4 \, CO_2 + 2 \, H_2O + 2 \, HBr\][/tex]
Comparing with Lana's balanced equation:
- The left-hand side has [tex]\( 2 \, C_4H_3Br \)[/tex] while Lana's starts with [tex]\( 2 \, C_2H_3Br \)[/tex].
- Neither the reactants nor products match those in Lana's final balanced equation.
2.
[tex]\[C_2H_3Br + 5 \, O_2 \rightarrow 4 \, CO_2 + H_2O + 2 \, HBr\][/tex]
Comparing with Lana's balanced equation:
- The left-hand side has [tex]\( C_2H_3Br \)[/tex] while Lana's starts with [tex]\( 2 \, C_2H_3Br \)[/tex].
- This equation could be multiplied to balance properly, but comparing proportions shows we'd get different coefficients for [tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex].
3.
[tex]\[C_4H_3Br + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O + HBr\][/tex]
Comparing with Lana's balanced equation:
- The left-hand side [tex]\( C_4H_3Br + O_2 \)[/tex] is different from [tex]\( 2 \, C_2H_3Br + 5 \, O_2 \)[/tex].
- Products here: [tex]\( CO_2, H_2O, \)[/tex] and [tex]\( HBr \)[/tex] also have differing coefficients from Lana's final balanced equation.
4.
[tex]\[C_2H_3Br + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O + HBr\][/tex]
This one matches more closely:
- Reactants: Begin with [tex]\( C_2H_3Br + O_2 \)[/tex], seems like it could be doubled to match [tex]\( 2 \, C_2H_3Br + 5 \, O_2 \)[/tex].
- Products: [tex]\( CO_2, H_2O, HBr \)[/tex], which can be scaled to fit as [tex]\( 4 \, CO_2, 2 \, H_2O, 2 \, HBr \)[/tex].
Given these comparisons, the most likely starting equation is:
[tex]\[C_2H_3Br + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O + HBr\][/tex]
Thus, the equation that most likely represents the starting equation used by Lana is:
[tex]\[C_2H_3Br + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O + HBr\][/tex]
This corresponds to option 4.
