Chemistry

Problem

Thermal decomposition of dinitrogen pentoxide in CCl

_4

produces NO

_2

and O

_2

. Mass-spectrometric monitoring of the reaction mixture reveals the presence of NO

_2^{+}

ions during the reaction. Four mechanisms have been proposed. A. N

_2

_5

→ NO

_2

+ NO

_3

(fast) NO

_3

→ NO

_2

+ O (slow) B. N

_2

_5

→ NO

_2^{+}

+ NO

_3^{-}

(slow) NO

_2^{+}

+ NO

_3^{-}

→ NO

_2

+ NO

_3

(fast) C. N

_2

_5

→ NO

_2

+ NO

_3

(slow) NO

_2

+ NO

_3

→ NO

_2

+ NO

_2

+ O (fast) D. N

_2

_5

→ NO

_2^{+}

+ NO

_3^{-}

(fast) NO

_2

+ NO

_3

→ NO

_2^{+}

+ NO

_3^{-}

(slow) Which mechanism is most consistent with the experimental detection of NO

_2^{+}

as a reaction intermediate? a) Mechanism D b) Mechanism A c) Mechanism B d) Mechanism C