Friday Lecture

[Samira 2B]

I understand the concept of intermediate species. I just do not get how just from the NO2 eqn and the rate eqn, we got that an intermediate species is needed. In the lecture notes, Lavelle states that "NO2 cannot form NO and CO2 so there must be an intermediate species" but in the eqn itself, there is a CO that helps form it? (Is it because the CO is a zero order?)

[Caroline Cox 1H]

Yes, it is because CO2 is zero order and therefore is not a factor that determines rate (aka not in the slow step).

[Wenjie Dong 2E]

It's because CO2 is the other reactant in this reaction. Since it does not occur in the reaction of NO2, there must be a subsequent reaction that involves CO2.

[Caroline LaPlaca]

It’s because of CO2

[Miguel Velasco 2J]

CO2 is zero order and is needed

[aaron tang 2K]

Correct, CO2 is a zero order so it doesn't affect the determination rate or the slow step.