Question

Consider the following mechanism for the reaction between nitric oxide and oxygen:

NO(g) + O₂(g) → NO₂(g) + O(g) (1)
NO(g) + O(g) → NO₂(g) (2)
Write the chemical equation of the overall reaction:

Answer 1

The chemical equation for the overall reaction is 2NO(g) + O2(g) → 2NO2(g).

Step-by-step explanation:

The chemical equation for the overall reaction between nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O2) is: 2NO(g) + O2(g) → 2NO2(g).

This equation represents the combination of two elementary steps. In the first step, two molecules of NO collide to form a molecule of N2O2. In the second step, that molecule of N2O2 collides with a molecule of O2 to produce two molecules of NO2.