A student investigates the gas-phase reaction between nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide in a pollution-chemistry study.

\[ \text{NO}_2\text{(g)}+\text{CO}\text{(g)}\rightarrow \text{NO}\text{(g)}+\text{CO}_2\text{(g)} \]

The student obtains the following initial-rate data at \(300\ \text{K}\).

Trial	\([\text{NO}_2]\)	\([\text{CO}]\)	Initial rate
\(1\)	\(0.010\ \text{M}\)	\(0.010\ \text{M}\)	\(2.0\times10^{-5}\ \text{M s}^{-1}\)
\(2\)	\(0.020\ \text{M}\)	\(0.010\ \text{M}\)	\(8.0\times10^{-5}\ \text{M s}^{-1}\)
\(3\)	\(0.020\ \text{M}\)	\(0.020\ \text{M}\)	\(8.0\times10^{-5}\ \text{M s}^{-1}\)

A proposed mechanism and estimated forward activation energies are shown below.

Step	Elementary reaction	Relative rate	\(E_{a,\text{forward}}\)
\(1\)	\(2\text{NO}_2\text{(g)}\rightarrow\text{NO}_3\text{(g)}+\text{NO}\text{(g)}\)	Slow	\(75\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\)
\(2\)	\(\text{NO}_3\text{(g)}+\text{CO}\text{(g)}\rightarrow\text{NO}_2\text{(g)}+\text{CO}_2\text{(g)}\)	Fast	\(25\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\)

An Arrhenius plot constructed from additional trials gives an apparent activation energy of \(75\ \text{kJ mol}^{-1}\). Which statement best evaluates whether the proposed mechanism is consistent with the experimental kinetic data?