Answer to Question #41805 in Inorganic Chemistry for ellianor

Question

(a) The reaction between hydrogen, H2(g), and nitrogen monoxide, NO(g), has the following rate equation,
rate = k[H2(g)][NO(g)]2,
The overall equation for the reaction is,
2H2(g) + 2NO(g) → N2(g) + 2H2O(l),
and the reaction takes place by a two step mechanism.
(i) What is the meaning of reaction mechanism?
(ii) Explain what a rate determining step is.
iii) Giving your reasoning, write two equations that could describe the two mechanistic steps for the above reaction. It is important to identify the rate determining step.