Draw a plausible transition state for the bimolecular reaction of nitric oxide with ozone. Use dashed lines to indicate the atoms that are weakly linked together in the transition state. NO(g) + O3(g) NO2(g) + O2(g)

Video transcript

Hello. In this problem, we are told that carbon dioxide and nitrogen monoxide are formed when carbon monoxide reacts with nitrogen dioxide grass. To use dash lines to show atoms that have weak links and to illustrate the most probable transition state, recall that collision theory states that in order for a chemical reaction to occur, reacting molecules must collide need to collide with proper orientation and collide with sufficient energy. So in this problem we're going to focus on the colliding with the proper orientation. We're looking for the orientation of the molecules that will allow carbon monoxide to leave with an oxygen to form carbon dioxide and allow the nitrogen dioxide to leave as nitrogen monoxide. So let's look at the possible transition states that were provided. So we're looking to indicate weak links by dash lines. The weak links would represent where we are forming a bond between carbon and oxygen and breaking a bond between nitrogen and oxygen. So we see that in a. So we will be forming a bond between carbon and oxygen to form carbon dioxide. We will be breaking a bond between nitrogen and oxygen so that we're left with nitrogen monoxide. If we look at B, it indicates that all the bonds are weak links. All the bonds are not weak links. Only those that are being formed and being broken. That eliminates B. As an answer. If we look at answer C. We see that the orientation is such that the carbon is oriented towards the nitrogen and we want the carbon to be oriented towards oxygen so that we can form a carbon oxygen bond, so that eliminates answer C. And if we look at answer D. The orientation is also not correct here. We have oxygen and nitrogen oriented towards one another. And so we're trying to break nitrogen oxygen bonds um not form a new nitrogen oxygen bond, so that eliminates D. If we go back to a, we see that we do have the orientation where carbon and oxygen are oriented towards one another, so that carbon can leave with an extra oxygen to form carbon dioxide and the nitrogen and oxygen. You can leave forming nitrogen monoxide. So answer A. Then is the most probable transition state where we have the molecules correctly oriented so that we form the correct bonds in our products. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.