Question

Chlorine released from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) reacts with ozone in the atmosphere to form oxygen. The proposed reactions are Cl(g)+O3(g)→ClO(g)+O2(g) ClO(g)+O(g)→Cl(g)+O2(g) Identify the species that acts as a catalyst and the one that acts as an intermediate in these reactions. Express your answers as chemical formulas separated by a comma.

Answer 1

1) Cl(g)+O₃(g)→ClO(g)+O₂(g)

2) ClO(g)+O(g)→Cl(g)+O₂(g)

Catalyst: It is a substance or compound which increases the rate of reaction and get regenerated in the reaction as a product.

In the above reaction 1) Cl reacts with O3 and got regenerated as product in reaction 2)

So Cl is the catalyst

Intermediate: It is a short lived molecule, when generated in a chemical reaction it will be consumed quickly in the reaction.

In the above reaction ClO is the intermediate

Therefore, Cl is the catalyst and ClO is the intermediate