Question

2. Given the following 2-step mechanism:

Step 1: NO2(g) + Cl2(g)  ClNO2(g) + Cl(g)
Step 2: NO2(g) + Cl(g)  ClNO2(g)

a. If the second step is the slow step, what is the predicted rate law?

Answer 1

Answer: Rate = k[NO2][Cl]

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate law for a reaction describes how the rate of the reaction depends on the concentrations of the reactants. If the second step is the slow step in the mechanism, then the rate law should reflect the rate-determining step, which is the slowest step in the mechanism. In this case, the rate law would be:

Rate = k[NO2][Cl]

This means that the rate of the reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of NO2 and the concentration of Cl.