Chapter 11, Problem 11.98PAE

Experiments show that the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with fluorine,

2 NO₂(g) + F₂(g) —* 2 FNO₂(g) has the rate law

Rate = *[NO₂][FJ

The reaction is thought to occur in two steps.

Step 1: NO₂(g) + F,(g) —* FNO,(g) + F(g)

Step 2: NO₂(g) + F(g) — FNO₂(g)

1. Show that the sum of this sequence of reactions gives the balanced equation for the overall reaction.

Which step is rate determining?