alleryStart learning →Phosphorus burns far more rapidly in pure oxygen than in ordinary air. Which factor explains this?
AThe state of subdivision of the phosphorus
BThe concentration of oxygen in the mixture
CThe chemical nature of phosphorus changes
DThe presence of a catalyst in ordinary air
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The concentration of oxygen in the mixture
1. Air is only about 20 percent oxygen while pure oxygen is 100 percent.
2. The phosphorus sample is the same in both cases, so subdivision is not the variable.
3. The only quantity that changes is the concentration of oxygen.
4. Higher reactant concentration gives a higher rate, so the burning is faster in pure oxygen.
5. No catalyst is involved in either case.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Kinetics", section 12.2 Factors Affecting Reaction Rates_
Keep practising Kinetics
Browse all Kinetics questions for IMU CET, or explore more Chemistry topics.
Related questions
Which enzyme deficiency is described as the most common one in humans?Why are most catalytic converters preheated by an electric heater?Which catalyst coats the surface of most modern three way catalytic converters?Which international treaty began phasing out chemicals linked to ozone destruction?Which prize did Paul Crutzen, Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland share for their work on ozNitric oxide takes part in the decomposition of ozone. Why is it called a catalyst?On a reaction diagram the reagents sit at 6 kJ and the transition state at 20 kJ. What is What effect does a catalyst have on the position of an equilibrium?