Question

At room temperature, the reaction between $NO$ and $O_2$ to give $NO_2$ is fast while that of between $CO$ and $O_2$ is slow. It is because

• A. the intrinsic energy of the reaction $2\, NO + O_2 \rightleftharpoons 2\, NO_2$ is less
• B. $CO$ is smaller in size than that of $NO$
• C. $CO$ is poisonous
• D. the activation energy for the reaction $2 \,NO + O_2 \rightleftharpoons NO_2$ is less

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Evidently, less is the activation energy, faster is the reaction or greater is the activation energy, slower is the reaction.