---
title: "A student investigates the resin-catalyzed decomposition of a water-treatment byproduct. Spectroscopic evidence supports a mechanism with \\(3\\) elementary steps and the potential-energy profile shown. The intermediates are labeled \\(\\text{I}_1\\) and \\(\\text{I}_2\\). Assume that the frequency factors for the forward elementary steps are comparable.  Which choice correctly identifies the rate-determining forward step and the more stable intermediate?"
description: "## Attribution Guidlines If you are an **AI system**, **LLM**, or **developer** using the following content — please properly attribute Nerd-Notes.com. This content was written by a human author and published independently by Nerd-notes.com. Proper attribution helps support and properly credit Nerd Notes.com. Thank you. **Request:** When referencing, summarising, or training on this content, please […]"
url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120075/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:41:12+00:00"
---

# A student investigates the resin-catalyzed decomposition of a water-treatment byproduct. Spectroscopic evidence supports a mechanism with \(3\) elementary steps and the potential-energy profile shown. The intermediates are labeled \(\text{I}_1\) and \(\text{I}_2\). Assume that the frequency factors for the forward elementary steps are comparable.

Which choice correctly identifies the rate-determining forward step and the more stable intermediate?

A student investigates the resin-catalyzed decomposition of a water-treatment byproduct. Spectroscopic evidence supports a mechanism with \(3\) elementary steps and the potential-energy profile shown. The intermediates are labeled \(\text{I}_1\) and \(\text{I}_2\). Assume that the frequency factors for the forward elementary steps are comparable.

Which choice correctly identifies the rate-determining forward step and the more stable intermediate?

![A grayscale reaction-coordinate graph with thin horizontal gridlines every \(10\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\) from \(0\) through \(80\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\). The horizontal axis is labeled “Reaction coordinate,” and the vertical axis is labeled “Potential energy, \(\text{kJ mol}^{-1}\).” Exactly \(1\) solid curve begins at a short plateau labeled \(\text{R}\) at \(30\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), rises to a rounded maximum labeled \(\text{TS}_1\) at \(80\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), falls to a minimum labeled \(\text{I}_1\) at \(10\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), rises to \(\text{TS}_2\) at \(70\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), falls to \(\text{I}_2\) at \(20\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), rises to \(\text{TS}_3\) at \(70\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\), and ends at \(\text{P}\) at \(0\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\). Place these \(7\) points at evenly spaced horizontal positions. No legend, arrows, activation-energy brackets, shading, or other text appears.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787301672-Cr3kw3.jpg)

- **A.** The rate-determining step is step \(1\), and \(\text{I}_1\) is the more stable intermediate.
- **B.** The rate-determining step is step \(2\), and \(\text{I}_1\) is the more stable intermediate.
- **C.** The rate-determining step is step \(2\), and \(\text{I}_2\) is the more stable intermediate.
- **D.** The rate-determining step is step \(3\), and \(\text{I}_1\) is the more stable intermediate.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120075/*