Zumdahl Chemical Kinetics Notes
Zumdahl Chemical Kinetics Notes
Zumdahl Chemical Kinetics Notes
concentration of
[NO2 ]
t
[ NO]
t
1
[O2 ]
2
t
t
t
3. Choice of rate law depends on what data is easiest to collect
***Why study rate law? Re-read the paragraph at the bottom of page 556.
12.3 Determining the Form of the Rate Law
A. Determining the value of n (Order of the reactant)
1. Example
[A]
Rate (mol/L s)
1.00 M
8.4 x 10-3
0.50 M
2.1 x 10-3
a. Doubling the concentration of species A quadruples the rate of the
reaction. Therefore, the reaction is of second order with respect to A
Rate = k[A]2
B. Method of Initial Rates
1. Initial rate
a. Instantaneous rate just after t = 0
2. Experimental method
a. Vary initial concentration of reactant(s)
b. Determine initial rate for each concentration
c. Examine relationship between rate and initial concentration
3. Example:
Table 12-4
Experiment
1
2
3
2
k
[A]
[A]0 / 2
3
D. Molecularity
1. The number of species that must collide to produce the reaction indicated by
that step
a. Unimolecular step - a reaction involving one molecule
b. Bimolecular step - reaction involving the collisions of two species
c. Termolecular step - reaction involving the collisions of three species
Table 12.7 Examples of Elementary Steps
Elementary Step
Molecularity
A products
Unimolecular
A + A products
Bimolecular
(2A products)
A + B products
Bimolecular
A + A + B products
Termolecular
(2A + B products)
A + B + C products
Termolecular
Rate Law
Rate = k[A]
Rate = k[A]2
Rate = k[A][B]
Rate = k[A]2[B]
Rate = k[A][B][C]
E. Rate-Determining Step
1. The slowest step in a reaction determines the rate of the reaction
F. Example
1. Overall rxn:
NO2(g) + CO(g) NO(g) + CO2 (g)
2. Rate law determined experimentally:
Rate = k[NO2]2
3. Elementary Steps
k1
NO2(g) + NO2(g)
NO3(g) + NO(g)
k2
NO3(g) + CO(g)
NO2 (g) + CO2(g)
4. Which step is rate determining?
a. IF step 1 ,
Rate = k[NO2]2
(1) this agrees with experimental results
b. IF step 2 ,
Rate = k[NO3][CO]
(1) this does not agree with experimental results
12.7 A Model for Chemical Kinetics
A. Collision Model
1. Molecules must collide in order to react
a. They must collide with sufficient energy
b. They must collide with correct orientation
B. Activation Energy (Ea)
1. The energy required to convert atoms or molecules into the activated
complex (transition state)
2. The minimum energy required for an effective collision
C. The Arrhenius Equation
1. Form #1:
k = zpe E a / RT
a. z is collision frequency
b. p is the stearic factor representing the fraction of collisions with
correct orientation
5
2. Form #2:
k = Ae E a / RT
a. z and p are combined to make A, the frequency factor (frequency of
effective collisions)
3. Taking the natural log of both sides:
ln( k ) = ln( Ae E a / RT )
ln( k ) = ln( A) + ln( e E a / RT )
ln( k ) =
Ea
R
1 + ln( A)
T
a. Linear equation
y = ln(k)
slope = -Ea/R
x = 1/T
intercept = ln(A)
12.8 Catalysis
A. Catalysts
1. A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed itself
B. Effects of Catalysis
1. Catalysts lower activation energy but do not change E for the reaction
2. Catalysts provide alternate reaction pathways
3. Catalysis results in a higher percentage of effective collisions
C. Heterogeneous Catalysis (usually gaseous reactants on a solid surface)
1. Four steps
a. Adsorption and activation of the reactants
(1) Adsorption refers to the collection of one substance on the
surface of another substance
b. Migration of the adsorbed reactants on the surface
c. Reaction of the adsorbed substances
d. Escape, or desorption, of the products
2. Uses
a. Conversion of alkenes to alkanes
b. Conversion of CO and NO in auto exhaust to CO2 and N2
D. Homogeneous Catalysis
1. Reactants and catalysts are in the same phase
2. Example - The decomposition of ozone
a. Freon, CCl2F2(g) light