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5.6 Reaction Kinetics (A Level Only)

Question Paper

Course CIE A Level Chemistry

Section 5. Physical Chemistry (A Level Only)
Topic 5.6 Reaction Kinetics (A Level Only)
Difficulty Medium

Time allowed: 70

Score: /53

Percentage: /100

Page 1 of 19

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Question 1a
The initial rate of the reaction of chlorine dioxide, ClO2, and fluorine, F2, is measured in a series of experiments at a constant
temperature.
2 ClO2 + F2 → 2ClO2F
The results obtained are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1
experiment [ClO2] / mol dm–3 [F2] / mol dm–3 initial rate / mol dm–3 s–1
1 0.010 0.060 2.20 × 10–3
2 0.025 0.060 to be calculated
3 to be calculated 0.040 7.04 × 10–3
The rate equation is rate = k[ClO2][F2].
i)
Explain what is meant by order of reaction with respect to a particular reagent.
[1]
ii)
Use the results of experiment 1 to calculate the rate constant, k, for this reaction. Include the units of k.

k = ............................. units ............................. [2]

iii)
Use the data in Table 1.1 to calculate the initial rate in experiment 2.

initial rate = ...................................... mol dm–3 s–1 [1]

iv)
Use the data in Table 1.1 to calculate [ClO2] in experiment 3.
[ClO2] = ............................................ mol dm–3 [1]
[5 marks]

Page 2 of 19

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Question 1b
i)
Explain what is meant by rate-determining step.

[1]
ii)
The mechanism of the reaction between ClO2 and F2 has two steps.

Suggest equations for the two steps of this mechanism.

step 1 ..............................................................................

step 2 ...............................................................................
[1]
iii)
State and explain which of the two steps is the rate-determining step.

rate-determining step = ..........................

[1]
[3 marks]

Question 1c
Describe the effect of temperature change on the rate of a reaction and the rate constant.
[1 mark]

Page 3 of 19

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Question 2a
This question is about the reactions of different unknown compounds.

Two compounds, X and Y, were reacted together.

The initial rate of reaction was measured when compound X and compound Y were reacted together. The temperature was kept constant and
the results of the experiments are shown in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

rate of reaction
experiment [X] / mol dm-3 [Y] / mol dm-3
/ mol dm-3 s-1

1 0.030 0.040 4.0 x 10 -4

2 0.045 0.040 6.0 x 10 -4

3 0.045 0.060 9.0 x 10 -4

4 0.060 0.120 2.4 × 10 -3

i)
Use the data in Table 2.1 to deduce the order of reaction with respect to X.

[1]

ii)
State the order of the reaction with respect to Y.

[1]

iii)
Determine the overall order of the reaction.

[1]

iv)
Write the rate equation for the reaction.

[1]

[4 marks]

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Page 5 of 19

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Question 2b
Three separate experiments were carried out at 400K with different starting concentrations of A and B. The results are shown in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2

rate of reaction
experiment [A] / mol dm-3 [B] / mol dm-3
/ mol dm-3 s-1

1 0.50 0.30 7.6 x 10 -4

2 0.25 0.30 1.9 x 10 -4

3 0.25 0.60 3.8 x 10 -3

i)
Deduce the order of reaction with respect to each reactant. Explain your reasoning.

order with respect to [A] ..............................................................................................

order with respect to [B] ................................................................................................

[2]

ii)
State the rate equation for this reaction. Use the rate equation to calculate the rate constant.

Include the units for the rate constant in your answer.

rate =

rate constant, k = ..............................

units of k = ..............................

[4]

[6 marks]

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Question 2c
The overall rate equation for a reaction is rate = k[P]2[Q]

i)
State what the units would be of the rate constant, k, in this reaction.

[1]

ii)
State the overall order of the reaction above.

[1]

[2 marks]

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Question 2d
Chemists measured the rate of a chemical reaction in a series of experiments between compounds C and D at a fixed temperature as shown in
Table 2.3.

Table 2.3

rate of reaction
experiment [C] / mol dm-3 [D] / mol dm-3
/ mol dm-3 s-1

1 0.13 0.12 0.32 x 10 -3

2 0.39 0.12 2.88 x 10 -3

3 0.78 0.24 11.52 x 10 -3

Dedude the order of reaction with respect to

C ..................................................
D ..................................................

and write the overall rate equation for this reaction.

[2 marks]

Page 8 of 19

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Question 3a
The initial rate of reaction for iodine and propanone in acid solution is measured in a series of experiments at constant temperature.

H+
CH3COCH3 + I2 ⎯⎯⎯ CH3COCH2I + HI

The rate equation was determined experimentally to be as shown.

rate = k [CH3COCH3][H+]

i)
State the order of reaction with respect to
CH3COCH3 ..................................................
I2 ..................................................
H+ ..................................................

and state the overall order of the reaction. ..................................................

[2]

ii)
Explain the role of the acid.

[2]

[4 marks]

Page 9 of 19

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Question 3b
The rate of this reaction is 5.40 × 10 –3 mol dm–3 s–1 when

the concentration of CH3COCH3 is 1.50 × 10 –2 mol dm–3

the concentration of I2 is 1.25 × 10 –2 mol dm–3
the concentration of H+ is 7.75 × 10 –1 mol dm–3.

i)
Calculate the rate constant, k, for this reaction. State the units of k.

k = ..............................

units = ..............................

[2]

ii)
Complete the table by placing one tick (✔) in each row to describe the effect of increasing the temperature on the rate constant and on the rate
of reaction.

decreases no change increases

rate constant
rate of reaction

[1]

[3 marks]

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Question 3c
Fig. 3.1 is produced from the results, which shows how the concentration of I2 changes during the reaction.

Fig. 3.1

Describe how Fig 3.1 could be used to determine the initial rate of the reaction.

[2 marks]

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Question 3d
On Fig 3.2, sketch a graph to show how the initial rate changes with different initial concentrations of H+ in this reaction.

Fig. 3.2

[1 mark]

Question 4a
The equation for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide without a catalyst is shown.
2H2O2 (aq) → 2H2O (l) + O2 (g)
With this information, a student suggests that the rate equation for this reaction is as follows.

rate = k [H2O2]2

Explain if the student is correct.

[2 marks]

Page 12 of 19

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Question 4b
A student carries out separate experiments using different initial concentrations of H2O2. The initial rate of each reaction is measured.

The table shows the results that are obtained.

[H2O2] / mol dm-3 0.100 0.210 0.285 0.420 0.540 0.700

-3 -1
rate / mol dm s 0.0055 0.0116 0.0157 0.0230 0.0297 0.0385

i)
Plot a graph on the grid of H2O2 concentration against rate of reaction.

Draw a line of best fit through the plotted points.

[2]

ii)
State the rate equation for this reaction.

[1]

[3 marks]

Page 13 of 19

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Question 4c
Another student monitors the concentration of H2O2 over time. The graph obtained is shown.

Using appropriate calculations, describe how the student could use this graph to prove the order of reaction with respect to H2O2.

[2 marks]

Page 14 of 19

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Question 4d
Under certain conditions, the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is found to be first order with respect to hydrogen peroxide, with a rate
constant, k, of 2.0 × 10 –6 s–1.

i)
Calculate the initial rate of decomposition of a 0.65 mol dm–3 hydrogen peroxide solution.

initial rate = .............................. mol dm–3 s–1

[1]

ii)
Explain the effect (if any) of decreasing the temperature on the rate constant and the rate of reaction.

[2]

[3 marks]

Page 15 of 19

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Question 5a
This question is about nitrogen oxides.
Nitrogen monoxide is produced by combustion in car engines and released into the atmosphere.

In the lower atmosphere, nitrogen monoxide is responsible for the formation of ozone in a series of reactions shown below.

NO (g) + ½O2 (g) → NO2 (g)

NO2 (g) → NO (g) + O (g)
O2 (g) + O (g) → O3 (g)
i)
What is the overall equation for this series of reactions?

[1]

ii)
Explain why NO is acting as a catalyst in this reaction.

[1]
[2 marks]

Page 16 of 19

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Question 5b
The rate equation for the reaction between nitrogen monoxide (NO) and oxygen (O2) under certain conditions is given.

Rate = k [NO]2[O2]

The result of an experiment in which NO reacted with O2 is shown in the table.

initial rate of reaction

initial [NO] / mol dm-3 initial [O2] / mol dm-3
/ mol dm-3 s-1

5.0 x 10 -2 1.0 x 10 -2 6.5 x 10 -4

Use the data and the rate equation to calculate a value for the rate constant k.

Give the units of k.

[2 marks]

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Question 5c
Nitrogen dioxide reacts with carbon monoxide at 100 ℃ to form nitrogen monoxide and carbon dioxide.

2NO2 (g) + CO (g) → NO (g) + CO2 (g)

The rate of this reaction was measured at different initial concentrations of the two reagents.

The rate equation was determined to be

Rate = k [NO2]2

The table shows an incomplete set of results.

Initial rate
experiment [NO2] / mol dm-3 [CO] / mol dm-3
/ mol dm-3 s-1

1 4.1 x 10 -2 2.8 x 10 -3 3.3 x 10 -5

2 7.8 x 10 -3 2.8 x 10 -3 to be calculated

3 to be calculated 5.6 x 10 -3 1.8 x 10 -4

i)
Use the data from Experiment 1 to calculate a value for the rate constant, k, at this temperature. State its units.

[2]

ii)
Use your value of k from (i) to complete the table for the reaction between NO2 and CO.

[2]

[4 marks]

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Question 5d
Nitrogen monoxide, NO (g), reacts with hydrogen, H2 (g), under certain conditions.

2NO (g) + 2H2 (g) → N2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

The rate equation for this reaction is given.

rate = k [NO]2 [H2]

One proposed mechanism for this reaction occurs in two steps.

1. 2NO + H2 → N2 + H2O2
2. H2O2 + H2 → 2H2O

Explain which of the steps is the rate-determining step.

[2 marks]

Page 19 of 19

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