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

Answer 1

The correct option is D The activation energy for the reaction $2NO+O_2\rightleftharpoons 2N{O}_2$ is less

Evidently, less is the activation energy, faster is the reaction or greater is the activation energy, slower is the reaction.