$m=0.15(8.6-s)$ $\newline$ The amount in moles, $m$ , of a reactant $s$ seconds after the start of a chemical reaction is given by the equation. Which of the following is the best interpretation of the number $8$ . $6$ ? $\newline$ Choose $1$ answer: $\newline$ (A) The initial amount of reactant was $8$ . $6$ moles. $\newline$ (B) The amount of reactant decreases by $8$ . $6$ moles per second. $\newline$ (C) No reactant remains $8$ . $6$ seconds after the start of the chemical reaction. $\newline$ (D) The amount of reactant begins to decrease $8$ . $6$ seconds after the start of the chemical reaction.

Full solution

m=0.15(8.6-s)

\newline

The amount in moles,

m

, of a reactant

s

seconds after the start of a chemical reaction is given by the equation. Which of the following is the best interpretation of the number

8

6

\newline

Choose

1

answer:

\newline

(A) The initial amount of reactant was

8

6

moles.

\newline

(B) The amount of reactant decreases by

8

6

moles per second.

\newline

8

6

seconds after the start of the chemical reaction.

\newline

(D) The amount of reactant begins to decrease

8

6

seconds after the start of the chemical reaction.

Analyze Equation: Let's look at the equation $m=0.15(8.6-s)$ . The term $8.6-s$ is inside the parentheses, which means we subtract $s$ from $8.6$ before multiplying by $0.15$ .
Subtract $s$ from $8.6$ : Since $s$ represents seconds after the start of the reaction, and it's being subtracted from $8.6$ , this suggests that $8.6$ is the initial amount before any reaction time has passed.
Calculate Initial Amount: If $s$ were $0$ (meaning at the start of the reaction), then $m$ would be $0.15 \times 8.6$ , which would be the initial amount of the reactant in moles.
Interpretation of $8.6$ : Therefore, the best interpretation of the number $8.6$ is that it represents the initial amount of reactant in moles.