To determine the final chemical equation, we will consider the given intermediate reactions and simplify the overall reaction.
1. The first reaction provided is:
[tex]\[
\text{C (s) + } \frac{1}{2} \text{O}_2 \text{(g) } \rightarrow \text{CO (g)}
\][/tex]
2. The second reaction provided is:
[tex]\[
\text{CO (g) + } \frac{1}{2} \text{O}_2 \text{(g) } \rightarrow \text{CO}_2\text{(g)}
\][/tex]
To find the overall reaction, we will sum the two reactions. Summing them gives us:
[tex]\[
\text{C (s) + } \frac{1}{2} \text{O}_2 \text{(g) } + \text{CO (g) + } \frac{1}{2} \text{O}_2 \text{(g)} \rightarrow \text{CO (g) + CO}_2\text{(g)}
\][/tex]
Next, we notice that CO appears as both a reactant and a product in the overall reaction. Therefore, we can cancel out CO from both sides of the equation. This leaves us with the simplified final reaction:
[tex]\[
\text{C (s) + O}_2 \text{(g)} \rightarrow \text{CO}_2\text{(g)}
\][/tex]
Thus, in forming the final chemical equation, we should cancel out CO because it appears as a reactant in one intermediate reaction and a product in the other intermediate reaction.
