Ozone in the stratosphere decomposes by a two-step sequence of elementary reactions shown below.
Step 1 O3→O2+O (slow)
Step 2 O+O3→2O2 (fast)
(a) Combine the two elementary steps to obtain the overall balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of ozone.
(b) Identify every species that meets the formal definition of a reaction intermediate for this mechanism. For each species you list, provide a brief justification that refers explicitly to its appearance and disappearance in the elementary steps.
(c) Experimental attempts to measure the concentration of atomic oxygen (O) in the stratosphere at steady state consistently yield values that are several orders of magnitude lower than the concentrations of O3 or O2. Using your answers to parts (a) and (b), explain why this observation is consistent with the mechanism provided.
(a) Overall balanced chemical equation
(b) Identification of intermediates with justification
(c) Explanation connecting intermediate behavior to low steady-state concentration