Identify the intermediate in the mechanism below:

Step 1:NO₂ → NO + O
Step 2:O + NO₂ → O₂ + NO

• A. NO₂
• B. NO
• C. O
• D. O₂
• E. There is no intermediate present.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that an intermediate in a chemical reaction mechanism is a species that is produced in one step and consumed in a subsequent step.
2. Examine Step 1: NO2 → NO + O. Here, NO2 is converted into NO and O. The species O is produced in this step.
3. Examine Step 2: O + NO2 → O2 + NO. In this step, the species O, which was produced in Step 1, is consumed.
4. Since O is produced in Step 1 and consumed in Step 2, it fits the definition of an intermediate.
5. Conclude that the intermediate in the given mechanism is the species O.