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Reakc Mehan

A reaction mechanism describes the step-by-step process by which a chemical reaction occurs. It involves intermediates that are temporarily formed during the reaction. The mechanism must agree with the overall balanced reaction and experimental rate law. Elementary steps have a defined molecularity and rate law. The slowest, rate-determining step controls the overall rate. Chemists use experimental rate laws and mechanistic rules to propose possible mechanisms.

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19 views10 pages

Reakc Mehan

A reaction mechanism describes the step-by-step process by which a chemical reaction occurs. It involves intermediates that are temporarily formed during the reaction. The mechanism must agree with the overall balanced reaction and experimental rate law. Elementary steps have a defined molecularity and rate law. The slowest, rate-determining step controls the overall rate. Chemists use experimental rate laws and mechanistic rules to propose possible mechanisms.

Uploaded by

mikeasmith404
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reaction Mechanisms

Reaction Mechanism
• Reactions occur by a series of steps =
Reaction mechanism
• Example:
Overall reaction: NO2 + CO  NO + CO2
occurs by following steps
• Step 1:

• Step 2:
Intermediates
• Two molecules of NO2 collide

• Oxygen is transferred, making NO3, the


intermediate
– Intermediates are temporarily formed during a
reaction
– They are neither a reactant nor a product &
– Get used up in reaction
Rules for Reaction Mechanisms
• Sum of elementary steps = overall
balanced rxn

• Mechanism must agree with experimental


rate law
Elementary Step
• Steps in reaction from which a rate law for
step can be directly written

• 2 molecules of NO2 need to collide,


therefore…
Rate = k [NO2]2
Molecularity
• Rate law written based on molecularity
– Number of things that have to collide
• Unimolecular – rxn depends on 1 molecule
• Bimolecular – rxn depends on 2 molecules

• Termolecular – rxn depends on 3 molecules


– Very rare!
Give molecularity and rate law:
• Unimolecular (first order)
– rate=k[A]

• Bimolecular (second order)


– rate=k[A][B]
Rules for Reaction Mechanisms
• Sum of elementary steps = overall
balanced rxn

• Mechanism must agree with experimental


rate law
Rate Determining Step
• The slowest step in mechanism
determines overall rate
• Rate cannot be faster than slowest step
– Demo: Filling bottle with funnel
• Overall rate law can be written from
molecularity of slowest step
How are mechanisms determined?
1. Rate law is determined using experiment
(method of initial rates, etc.)
2. Chemist uses intuition to come up w/
various mechanisms
3. Narrows down choices using rules for
mechanisms

No mechanism is ever absolutely proven

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