The decomposition of ozone may occur through the two-step mechanism shown: The oxygen atom is considered to be a(n)

Question

The decomposition of ozone may occur through the two-step mechanism shown:  The oxygen atom is considered to be a(n)

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The oxygen atom is neither a reactant nor a product, as it is formed and re-formed during the reaction but not consumed or produced. It is also not a catalyst, as it is not involved in lowering the activation energy of the reaction. The oxygen atom is an intermediate, as it is formed in the first step of the mechanism and consumed in the second step, but it is not a transition state or activated complex, which are high-energy species that exist at the peak of the energy barrier between reactants and products.

The Decomposition of Ozone May Occur Through the Two-Step Mechanism