A reaction that contributes to the depletion of ozone in the stra...

Question

A reaction that contributes to the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere is the direct reaction of oxygen atoms with ozone: O(g) + O3(g) → 2 O2(g). At 298 K, the rate constant for this reaction is 4.8 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Would you expect this reaction to occur via a single elementary process? Explain why or why not.

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Understand the reaction given: O(g) + O3(g) → 2 O2(g). This reaction involves the collision of an oxygen atom with an ozone molecule to form two oxygen molecules.. Step 2: Consider the molecularity of the reaction. A single elementary process typically involves one or two reactant molecules colliding. This reaction involves two reactant species, which is consistent with a bimolecular elementary reaction.. Step 3: Evaluate the rate constant. The given rate constant is 4.8 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, which is relatively high, suggesting that the reaction is likely to occur quickly if it is an elementary process.. Step 4: Consider the nature of the reactants. The reaction involves a highly reactive oxygen atom (O) and ozone (O3), both of which are capable of reacting quickly, supporting the idea of a direct, single-step process.. Step 5: Conclude based on the above analysis. Given the bimolecular nature, high rate constant, and reactive species involved, it is reasonable to expect that this reaction could occur via a single elementary process.

Key Concepts

Elementary Reactions

Rate Constants and Reaction Order

Mechanism of Reactions