alleryStart learning →Nitric oxide takes part in the decomposition of ozone. Why is it called a catalyst?
AIt is used up as the ozone breaks down
BIt appears only among the final products
CIt reacts and is then regenerated again
DIt raises the energy barrier for the step
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It reacts and is then regenerated again
1. In the first step NO reacts with ozone to give NO2 and oxygen.
2. In a later step NO2 reacts with an oxygen atom and gives NO back.
3. So the nitric oxide is consumed and then regenerated, never permanently used up.
4. The overall change is still 2O3 giving 3O2, exactly as without the NO.
5. A species that is genuinely used up would appear in the overall equation, which NO does not.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Kinetics", section 12.7 Catalysis_
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