Consider the following sequence of elementary reactions written with generic symbolic species.
Step 1 A+B→C+D
Step 2 C+E→F
Step 3 F+B→G+C
(a) Write the overall balanced chemical equation obtained by adding the three elementary steps and canceling any species that appear on both sides of the summed equation.
(b) Identify all species that are reaction intermediates. For each species you identify, state in which step it is produced and in which subsequent step it is consumed.
(c) One student claims that species C cannot be an intermediate because it appears in two non-consecutive steps. Evaluate this claim, citing the formal definition of a reaction intermediate to support your conclusion.
(a) Overall balanced chemical equation
(b) Identification of intermediates with step references
(c) Evaluation of the student’s claim with justification