Name : Ari Purnomo

NIM : 21030115120046
Lectures : Dr. Sasongko

TASK 1 OF CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING

The Problem

2.1 SEARCH FOR THE REACTION MECHANISM

The irreversible reaction

A + B = AB (10)

Has been studied kinetically, and the rate of formation of product has been found to
be well correlated by the following rate equation :

rAB = kC2B . . . independent of CA . (11)

what reaction mechanism is suggested by this rate expression if the chemistry of the reaction
suggest that the intermediate consist of an association of reactant molecules and that a chain
reaction does not occur ?

The Solution

If this were an elementary reaction, the rate would be given by :

rAB = kCACB, (12)

from the questions above, we know from experiment that the rate constant equal to 11
equation. Since equations 11 and 12 are not of the sae type, the reaction evidently is
nonelementary. So, we have to determine intermediate compound to solve the problem aboce.
We start with simple two-step models.

Hypothesize 1.

First hypothesize is we predict that there is other compound in the reaction called A2*
(an intermediate substance), not actually seen and hence thought to be present only small
amount. Thus, the reaction to be :
There is 4 value of k (k1, k2, k3, and k4). Now write the expression for the rate of formation of
AB caused by the value knowing before from experiment. Start the calculation from k3 and k4

(14)
Because the concentrasion of intermediate A2* is so small and not measurable, the above rate
expression cannot be tested in its present form. So, we can substitute value of A2* with
concentrasion that can be measured such as [A], [B], or [AB] using equations 13.

(15)
Where the concentrasion of A2* is so small, we may assume that its rate of change is zero. So,
the new formula of A2* to be :

(16)

After calculate an intermediate substance [A2*], equtions 14 have a certain value if we

substitute equations 16 to equations 14.

(17)

The equation 17 is not appropriate with data experiment as shown equation 14. In searching
for a model consistent with observed kinetics we may decided another assume, for the next
step is

If, k2 is very small, this expression reduces.

(18)
If k4 is very small, rAB reduce to :

(19)

Neither of these special forms, equation 18 and 19, matches with the experimentally found
rate. Thus, the hypothesized mechanism 1 is incorrect.

Hypothesize 2.

First note that the stoichiometry of equation 10 is symmetrical in A and B, because

using intermediate substances of A is failed, So, the mechanism that will match the second
order rate equation is:

B B
k1
B2*

A B2* AB B
k3
k4

First step, using the data above, it will give a certain value of rate contant AB,
because data that known is rate constant of AB substance, so its equal to :

rAB k 3CACB *
2
K 4CABCB (20)

In equations 20, there is intermediate substenace of B2*, because the concentrasion of

lintermediate substance B2* is so small and not measurable, tried to changer term into [A],
[B], or [AB].

Second step, calculate a certain value of CB2* using k1, k2, and k3

rB 2
*
k1CB2* k 3CACB2* k 4CABCB
Because the concentration of B2* is so small and not measurable, we may assume tha its rate
of change is zero, so, the formula can be solved.

0 k 1CB2* k 3CACB2* k 4CABCB

k 3CACB2* k 1CB2* k 4CABCB
* k 1CB2* k 4CABCB (21)
CB2
k 3CA
Third steps, if we have data of B2* from equation 21, we have to calculate the real rate
constant of AB with intermediate substance of B2* using substitute equation 21 to equation
20.

k 1CB2* k 4CABCB
r AB k3 [ k 3CA
]
CA k 4CABCB

k 1CB2* k 4CABCB k 4CABCB

rAB k 1CB2* (22)

We are fortunate in this example to have represented our data by a form of equation
which happened to match exactly that obtained from the theoretical mechanism. We can
conclude that, the reaction nonelementary in this problem make a intermediate substance of
B2* and this is proven by the results of the equation 22 similar with the theoretical value from
equation 10.