Rates of Reaction (Kinetics)

Exam Qs

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1 Initial rates data and the rate equation 2 The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

Question page 1 1 (a) The following data were obtained in a series of experiments on the rate of the reaction between compounds X and Y at a constant temperature. Experiment Initial concentration Initial concentration of X/mol dm3 of Y/mol dm3 1 2 3 0.05 0.10 0.20 0.08 0.08 0.16 Initial rate/ mol dm3 s1 0.15 x 106 0.30 x 106 2.40 x 106

(i) Show with reasoning how the data in the table can be used to deduce that the reaction is first-order with respect to X. (ii) Deduce with reasoning the order with respect to Y.

(iii) State the rate equation and overall order for this reaction.

(5 marks)
Answer 1 (a)

Question page 2 1 (b) The following data were obtained in a second series of experiments on the rate of the reaction between compounds M and N at a constant temperature. Experiment 4 5 Initial concentration of M/mol dm3 0.25 0.40 Initial concentration of N/mol dm3 0.50 0.20 Initial rate /mol dm3 s1 3.10 x 106 To be calculated

The rate equation for this reaction is

rate = k [M]2 [N]

(i) Use the data from Experiment 4 to calculate a value for the rate constant, k, at this temperature. State the units of k. Value for k Units of k ............... ............... ............... ............... (4 marks) Answer 1 (b)

(ii) Calculate the value of the initial rate in Experiment 5.

Question page 3

2 (a) State what is meant by the term activation energy of a reaction. (1 mark) (b) Explain how a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction. (2 marks)

Answers 2 (a) and (b)

Question page 4 2 (c) The MaxwellBoltzmann distribution of energies, at a constant temperature, for a molecular gas is shown below. The most probable molecular energy at this temperature is indicated by Emp and the activation energy by Ea.
Number of molecules

Consider the following changes: (i) The number of molecules is increased at constant temperature. (ii) The temperature is decreased without changing the number of molecules. (iii) A catalyst is introduced without changing the temperature or number of molecules.

Emp

Ea

Energy

For each change state how, if at all, the following would vary: the value of the most probable energy, Emp the number of molecules with the most probable energy, Emp the area under the molecular energy distribution curve the number of molecules with energy greater than the activation energy, Ea
Answer 2 (c) i ii iii

(12 marks)

References
An illustration of how exam questions and model answers might be presented for use in the classroom or independently. Steve Lewis for the Royal Society of Chemistry