A proposed mechanism contains the following four elementary steps. Which of the

Question

A proposed mechanism contains the following four elementary steps. Which of the following is false? NO2 + F2 ? NOF2 + O (slow) NO2 + O ? NO3 (fast) NOF2 + NO2 ? NO2F + NOF (fast) NO3 + NOF ? NO2F + NO2 (fast) NOF2 is one of the intermediates formed in the first elementary step. The overall reaction is: 2 NO2 + F2 ? 2 NO2F If the experimentally determined rate law is Rate = 0.89[NO2][F2], the rate law of this proposed mechanism is in agreement. All four elementary steps are bimolecular. O acts as a catalyst for the reaction; as a catalyst it provides an alternative pathway for the reaction, which has a lower activation energy for the rate-determining step.

Explanation / Answer

O is produced in the first step and consumed in the subsequent step. Hence it is an intermediate and not a catalyst. Hence, the statement that O acts as a catalyst is false.

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