Phosphoric acid, which is commonly used as rust inhibitor, food additive and etching agent for dental and orthopedic use, can be synthesized using a two-step thermal process. In the first step, phosphorus and oxygen react to form diphosphorus pentoxide: P4(l)+5O2(g-2 P20s(g) In the second step, diphosphorus pentoxide and water react to form phosphoric acld P20(9)+3 H200 2H, PO40) Write the net chemical equation for the production of phosphoric acid from phosphorus, oxygen and water.

P₄(l) + 5 O₂(g) + 6 H₂O(l) ⇒ 4 H₃PO₄(aq)

Explanation:

Phosphoric acid is synthesized using a two-step thermal process.

In the first step, phosphorus and oxygen react to form diphosphorus pentoxide. The corresponding chemical equation is:

P₄(l) + 5 O₂(g) ⇒ 2 P₂O₅(g)

In the second step, diphosphorus pentoxide and water react to form phosphoric acid. The corresponding chemical equation is:

P₂O₅(g) + 3 H₂O(l) ⇒ 2 H₃PO₄(aq)

We can get the net chemical equation by adding the first step, the second step multiplied by 2, and canceling what is repeated on both sides.

P₄(l) + 5 O₂(g) + 2 P₂O₅(g) + 6 H₂O(l) ⇒ 2 P₂O₅(g) + 4 H₃PO₄(aq)

P₄(l) + 5 O₂(g) + 6 H₂O(l) ⇒ 4 H₃PO₄(aq)

the answer is b because, investigating whether another species of moth also drinks tears might be interesting, but it would not directly explain why this species of moth does.

to explain why this species of moth drinks tears, the scientist could ask: "what nutrients that moths need are in elephant tears? "

the scientist could experiment with moth repellent or oter ways to keep the moths away, but that would not answer his original question.