Question

At room temperature the reaction between NO and $O_2$ to give $N{O}_2$ is fast while that of between CO and $O_2$ is slow. It is because:

• A. CO is smaller in size than that of NO
• B. CO is poisonous
• C. the activation energy for the reaction 2NO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$N{O}_2$ is less than 2CO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$C{O}_2$
• D. the activation energy for the reaction 2CO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$C{O}_2$ is less than 2NO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$N{O}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is C the activation energy for the reaction 2NO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$N{O}_2$ is less than 2CO+$O_2$ $\to$ 2$C{O}_2$

The reaction between NO and oxygen has lower activation energy than the reaction between CO and oxygen.
Hence, the reaction between NO and oxygen is fast whereas the reaction between CO and oxygen is slow.