Consider the given figure and choose the correct option:
Activation energy of both forward and backward reaction is and reactant is more stable than product.
Activation energy of backward reaction is and product is more stable than reactant.
Activation energy of forward reaction is and product is less stable than reactant.
Activation energy of forward reaction is and product is more stable than reactant.
Correct answer:D
Standard Method
Given: The figure is an energy profile diagram for a chemical reaction. The energy gap from product to activated complex is marked as , and the energy gap between reactant and product is marked as .
Find: The correct statement about activation energy and stability.
From the solution, the accepted key on the page states that the correct option is D.
Using the reaction coordinate diagram, the forward activation energy is taken from the reactant level to the activated complex. Hence,
The reverse activation energy is taken from the product level to the activated complex.
Also, the solution's second approach states that the product is more stable than the reactant and concludes option (4).
Therefore, the correct option is D.
the solution discrepancy noted
Given: the solution contains a contradiction. One approach concludes Option 3, while another approach and the solution conclude Option D.
Find: Which answer should be taken as final.
The answer-resolution rule gives priority to the the solution conclusion. Here, the page explicitly says:
Although Approach Solution - 1 ends with Option 3, this conflicts with the explicit page-level answer declaration.
So the extracted final answer is taken as D, while preserving the options verbatim.
Therefore, the correct option is D.
Confusing forward activation energy with backward activation energy. The forward activation energy is measured from reactant to activated complex, while the backward activation energy is measured from product to activated complex.
Judging stability without checking the relative energy levels carefully. The more stable species lies at lower energy, so the diagram must be read before concluding which side is more stable.
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