The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in solution and in the presence of iodide ion was studied in laboratory, and the following mechanism proposed based on the experimental data.

H2O2 + I - = H2O + IO - (slow)
H2O2 + IO - = H2O + O2 + I - (fast)

Which one of the following statements is false? Choose answer (E) if more than one or none are false.

a. The reaction is first order with respect to H2O2.
b. The reaction is first order with respect to I -
c. I - is a catalyst.
d. IO - is an intermediate.
e. More than one the above statements is false (or none of the statements are false).

no idea how to do this HELP!

To determine which statements are false, we need to analyze the proposed mechanism and the rate laws for the given reactions.

Let's start by writing the rate law for each step of the mechanism:

First step: H2O2 + I- → H2O + IO- (slow step)
The rate law for this step can be written as rate1 = k1[H2O2][I-]

Second step: H2O2 + IO- → H2O + O2 + I- (fast step)
The rate law for this step can be written as rate2 = k2[H2O2][IO-]

Now, let's analyze each statement:

a. The reaction is first order with respect to H2O2.
Looking at the rate law for the first step, we can see that the reaction is indeed first order with respect to H2O2.

b. The reaction is first order with respect to I-.
Looking at the rate law for the first step, we can see that the reaction is first order with respect to I-.

c. I- is a catalyst.
A catalyst is a substance that participates in a reaction but remains unchanged at the end. In this mechanism, I- is not consumed in the overall reaction. It is produced in the first step and consumed in the second step, making it an intermediate rather than a catalyst. Therefore, this statement is false.

d. IO- is an intermediate.
As mentioned earlier, IO- is produced in the first step and then consumed in the second step, making it an intermediate. This statement is true.

e. More than one of the above statements is false (or none of the statements are false).
Based on our analysis, statement c is false while the other statements (a, b, and d) are true. Therefore, the correct answer is e.

In summary, the false statement is:
c. I- is a catalyst.