JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3df049
Leaded petrol must not be used in a car fitted with a Pt-Rh catalytic converter. This is because
Alead deposits on the metal surface and blocks the active sites, poisoning the heterogeneous catalyst
Blead raises the activation energy of 2NO+2CONX2+2COX2 homogeneously in the gas phase
Clead oxidises Pt to a soluble +4 salt which dissolves in the exhaust
Dlead converts CO to COX2 so that the converter has nothing to do
Answer: A
The converter is a heterogeneous catalyst; its activity depends on free surface sites. Lead compounds from tetraethyllead adsorb irreversibly on Pt-Rh, which is catalyst poisoning. The reaction 2NO+2CONX2+2COX2 is balanced and needs the clean surface to proceed.