ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ (01 SEPTEMBER 2016) WITH DISCUSSION

ChE125 Quiz 3
September 2016
This is a closed notes, closed book, closed e-book quiz. Find the solution to the following problems. Show the process. For
problems requiring numerical answers instead of expressions, numerical values in the course of the solution must be limited to
three decimal places and report final answer in 2 decimal places. You may discuss your answer if deemed necessary. Write your
solutions in YELLOW PAPER. Excel files may also be submitted (file name: ChE125_surname_quiz3_problem number (e.g.
ChE125_Medrano_quiz3_1)). Attach this questionnaire to your answer sheet upon submission.
1.

Write the rate law for the reaction

2 +
If the reaction is
a. second order in B and overall third order,
b. zero order in A and first order in B,
c. zero order in both A and B, and
d. first order in A and overall zero order.

Answer:
General form of the rate law:
= , = +
If the reaction above were elementary, rate law would be
= 2 , = 3
But the rate low being asked for each letter above does not correspond to the rate law of an elementary reaction,
Write the rate law according to the specified order for each component and overall order.
a.

second order in B and overall third order

= 2

b.

zero order in A and first order in B

c.

zero order in both A and B

d.

first order in A and overall zero order

=
=
= 1
Given the low pressure gas-phase reaction with rate

=
= 1 2.2 2 0.5

with p in atm, C in
3 , t in hours, and 1 = 17.3, 2 = 0.2. The reaction takes place at 72 1 .
2.

a.
b.

What are the units of 1 2 ?

With the rate equation in the following form, find 1 2 , value and units.

=
= 1 2.2 2 0.5

Answer:
a. What are the units of 1 2 ?

The unit for rate is

. Each of the terms in the equation should give the same unit. Unit for a given term is still the

same: ( )1 ()1
1
1 :
1.2
( )()
0.5
2 :

b.

With the rate equation in the following form, find 1 2 , value and units.

=
= 1 2.2 2 0.5

For each term in the right side of the equation, this corresponds to . Relating partial pressure and

concentration to get values and units for 1 2 must be done term by term.
For 1 ,

For 2 ,

Finding the values and units,

3.

At 500 , the rate of a bimolecular reaction is ten times the rate at 400 K. Find E of the reaction from Arrhenius Law.
Solution:
500 = 10400
Relationship of rates at two temperatures of the same reaction from Arrhenius Law:
2 1
1
ln = ( )
1 1 2

Substituting above equation with values from the problem and = 8.31447
,

500
1
1
ln
= (

)
400 400 500
10400
ln

400
= 8.31447
(
)
1
1
(

)
400 500

= 38289.549

= .

4.

At 250 the stoichiometry of the first order gas-phase decomposition of A shows 0.96 + 0.04 . We suspect that
this stoichiometry is better explained by considering the competing decomposition paths
1

with

1
2

= 24. Further experiments are planned for 300. What ratio of rate constants would we expect to find if

hypothesis of competing paths is correct?

Answer:
For the hypothesis of competing paths to be correct, the ratio of rate constants would be expected to be the same,
provided that the activation energy of both reactions are the same.
5.

The initial reaction rate for the elementary reactor

2 +

0.002
0.046
0.72
( 3 )

()
26.85
46.85
66.85
was measured as a function of temperature when the concentration of A was 2M and that B is 1.5 M.

a.
b.
c.
Hint:

8.33
86.85

What is the activation energy?

What is the frequency factor?
What is the rate constant as a function of temperature using = 300 as the base case?
Apply Arrhenius Law to the temperature dependency factor of the rate law.
Develop an equation into a form = + , where y and x are functions of and T.
Plot the given data above, and utilize the equation of the line (e.g. slope is equal to which variable, etc.).
Consistent units should be used.

Solution:
Rate Law:
= 2
From the hints above:
a. Apply Arrhenius Law to the temperature dependency factor of the rate law.

= ( ) 2
b.

c.

Develop an equation into a form = + , where y and x are functions of and T.

1
ln( ) = ( ) + ln( 2 )

Plot the given data above, and utilize the equation of the line (e.g. slope is equal to which variable, etc.).
1
A plot of ln( ) . .

d.

Consistent units should be used.

Compare units of all parameters/variables (e.g. concentration, temperature, etc.)

Questions and Answers:

1. What is the activation energy?
The equation of the plot is
= 14999 + 43.786
which corresponds to
1
( ) + ln( 2 )

Slope corresponds to , so to solve for the activation energy,

= 14999

= 14999 (8.31447
)

= 124708.736

= .

ln( ) =

2.

What is the frequency factor?

ln( 2 ) = 43.786
43.786
ko = 2

43.786
=
(2)2 (1.5)
= 1.729 1018
= .

3.

What is the rate constant as a function of temperature using = 300 as the base case?

= ( )
= 1.729 1018

124708.736

(300 )
8.31447

(
= 3.346 104

= .