The First Decision
Based on the information given, most people would have chosen the other option.
In general, the faster a reaction moves towards the completion, the more attractive it is. Since less time is required, more reactions can be carried out in any given period of time. Thus, more product can be obtained.
However, sometimes a fast reaction might be difficult to control and run away on the manufacturer. Also, exothermic reaction which occur quickly can evolve a great deal of heat which might not be easily removed. As a result, the speed of the reaction is not a simple and clear-cut means of determining which reaction is best.
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