MCQ

Chemical kinetics predicts the …… of the chemical reaction.

a) speed b) feasibility c) both a and b d) neither (a) nor (b)

Injection of hot inert to a reactor

a) lowers the partial pressure of reactant without the need to operate at sub – atmospheric
pressures
b) provides an internal heat source for endothermic heat of reaction, making adiabatic
operation possible
c) both a and b
d) neither a nor b

Rate of a chemical reaction is independent of the concentration of reactant for

a) zero order reaction b) auto catalytic reaction
c)pseudo first order reaction d) none of these

The half-life period of a first order reaction (k = reaction rate constant) is

a) 0.693/k b) ln 2/k c) ln k/2 d) both a and b

For the reaction A + 2B → 3C, find the correct statement

a) rate of disappearance of A is half of rate of disappearance of B
b) rate of disappearance of A is one third of rate of production of C
c) rate of production of C in 1.5 times rate of disappearance of B
d) all a, b, c

For reaction in series ……. is the key to the formation of intermediate

a) mixing of fluid of different composition b) concentration level of reactants
c) contacting pattern of feed streams d) temperature and pressure

The ratio of moles of reactant converted into the desired product to that converted into
unwanted product is called
a) Operational yield b) relative yield c) selectivity d) none of these

Operational yield (ΦA) is defined as

a) the ratio of moles of A transformed into desired product and total moles of A reacted
b) the ratio of moles of A transformed into desired product and total moles of A fed to the
reactor
c)the ratio of moles of reactant converted into the desired product to that converted into
unwanted product
d) none of these

Batch reactor is suitable for

a) large scale production
b) gas phase reaction on commercial scale
c)liquid phase reaction in small scale production of a component
d) achieving high conversion

Which type of reactor is suitable for high pressure gas phase reaction?
a) batch reactor
b) continuous stirred tank reactor
c) semi batch reactor
d) tubular flow reactor

Back mixing in a reactor means

a) uniform mixing between reactant molecules
b) uniform mixing between product molecules
c) mixing between fresh reactant and partially converted reactant molecules
d) the mixing in radial direction only

For a particular duty, the ideal CSTR volume required is larger than that of an ideal PFR,
when
a) order of the reaction is positive
b) order of the reaction is zero
c)order of the reaction is one
d) order of the reaction is fraction

As recycle ratio varies from 0 to α, how the recycle reactor behaves?

a) flow pattern shifts from plug flow to mixed flow
b) flow pattern shifts from mixed flow to plug flow
c) degree of backing increases
d) both a and c

For a reaction with order greater than one, which of the following arrangements give more
conversion?
a) larger CSTR followed by smaller CSTR
b) smaller PFR followed by larger PFR
c) PFR followed by CSTR
d) CSTR followed by PFR

For same duty and final conversion, total volume of n number of equal sized PFRs (volume
of one reactor is V) in cascade is …......... the volume of the single PFR of volume nV
a) more than b) less than c) equal to d) ≥ to

Process in which catalyst has a different phase to a reaction mixture, this process is known as

a) Homogeneous catalysis b) Heterogeneous catalysis

 c) both a and b d) neither (a) nor (b)

For an exothermic reaction, a change in temperature leads to change in

a) reaction rate & rate constant

b) activation energy
c) frequency factor
d) None of these

The catalyst does not affect the __________ of reaction.

a) Rate
b) Equilibrium
c) Selectivity
d) Activation energy

The principle of chemical kinetics determines

a) how far the reaction can possibly proceed under any prescribed condition,

b) at what rate the reaction will proceed towards the maximum extent under any prescribed
condition,

c) heat generation of absorption in chemical reaction,

d) none of these

Rate of homogeneous reaction is a function of

a) temperature, b) pressure, c) composition, d) all a, b and c

Injection of hot inert to a reactor

a) lowers the partial pressure of reactant without the need to operate at sub – atmospheric
pressures, b) provides an internal heat source for endothermic heat of reaction, making
adiabatic operation possible, c) both a and b, d) neither a nor b

For a homogeneous n th order reaction, nA→Pn, the dimension of reaction rate constant is

a) time-n b) (concentration)- (1-n) c) (concentration)- (1-n)/time d) (concentration) (1-n)/time

Half life period of a chemical reaction is

a) time required for the limiting reactant concentration to become half of its initial value.

b) half of the reaction space time

c) the half of the total batch time

d) none of these

A second order reaction of the type A + B→ C (CA0 is initial concentration of A and CB0 is
initial concentration of B) behaves like a second order reaction of the type 2A → C, when
a)CA0 = CB0 b)CA0 > CB0 c) CA0 < CB0 d) CA0 ≥ CB0

As per transition state theory, the relation between reaction rate constant and temperature is
given by
a) kα T1.5 b) k α exp(-E/RT) c) k α exp(-E/RT).T d) k α T0.5
Role of catalysts:

a) Changing the molecular path of the reaction

b) Plays with the mechanism of reaction
c) Increases the rate of reaction
d) All of the above

Unsupported catalyst is preferred over supported catalyst when

a) Low pressure drop is desired and heat removal is easy

b) High pressure drop is desired and heat removal is difficult
c) Low pressure drop is desired and heat removal is difficult
d) High pressure drop is desired and heat removal is easy
Promoter is added to the catalyst to improve its

a) Porosity
b) Selectivity
c) Surface area
d) None of these

In a reversible reaction, a catalyst increases the rate of forward reaction

a) Only
b) To a greater extent than that of the backward reaction
c) And decreases that of the backward reaction
d) And the backward reaction equally

The B.E.T. theory is used in calculating the ____________

a) Surface area of adsorbate

b) Surface area of adsorbent only
c) Surface area of adsorbents and catalyst
d) None of the mentioned

For catalytic reaction, the overall reaction rate is controlled by the diffusion when thiele
modulus (φn),
 a) φn2>>1
b) φn2<<1
c) φn2=1
d) φn2≠1
The importance of diffusion in a catalyst are increases by

a) Large catalyst particle size

b) An active surface of the catalyst
c) Small pore diameter
d) All (a), (b) & (c)

According to the B.E.T theory the surface area available for the nth layer is equal to the
coverage of ____________

a) (n-1)th layer
b) (n+1)th layer
c) nth layer
d) none of the mentioned

Effective diffusivity is a function of

a) Tortuosity factor
b) Constriction factor
c) Pores interconnecting factor
d) All of the above

For a catalytic reaction with order greater than 1 conducted under diffusion-controlled regime
and isothermal conditional, the overall rate of reaction can be increased by
a) Using smaller pellets
b) Increasing the temperature
c) Increasing the concentration at the external pellet surface.
d) Increasing the internal surface area.

Which of the following is not an assumption of Langmuir model?

a) Energy of adsorption of gas molecules to the adsorbent site is different at different

adsorbing site
b) Maximum amount of adsorption corresponds to a monolayer
c) Desorption rate depends on the amount of material adsorbed onto the solid surface
d) Gas phase molecules are adsorbed on discrete points on the solid surface

Which of the following is not a characteristic of tracer?

a) Easily detectable
b) Absorbance onto the reactor surface
c) Inertness
d) non-reactive

If C=2 and area under the C – curve is 4 for a pulse input, then the value of E is ____
a) 2
b) 0.5
c) 1
d) 8

The average residence time obtained from cumulative age distribution is ____

a) τ =
∫ tC ( t ) dt
∫ c ( t ) dt

b) τ =
∫ C ( t ) dt
∫ tc ( t ) dt
c) τ =
∫ tC ( t ) dt
∫ dt
d) τ =∫ tc ( t ) dt

Process in which catalyst has a different phase to a reaction mixture, this process is known as
a) Homogeneous catalysis b) Heterogeneous catalysis
c) both a and b d) neither (a) nor (b)

For an exothermic reaction, a change in temperature leads to change in

e) reaction rate & rate constant

f) activation energy
g) frequency factor
h) None of these

The catalyst does not affect the __________ of reaction.

e) Rate
f) Equilibrium
g) Selectivity
h) Activation energy

Catalytic reaction steps happening over the supported catalyst are given below. Identify the
correct order.

I. Diffusion of product into the bulk fluid

II. Surface reaction
III. Adsorption of reactant species on active sites
IV. External diffusion of reactant species from bulk fluid to catalyst surface
 V. Desorption of product species
VI. Internal diffusion of reactant species to catalyst active sites

a) III-II-V-VI-I
b) IV-VI-III-II-V-I
c) VI-III-II-V-VI-I
d) VI-IV-II-III-V-I

Carrier in a catalyst increases its

a) Surface area
b) Activity
c) Performance
d) None of these

The variation of Chemisorption with Pressure is ____

a) Chemisorption increases with increase in pressure

b) Chemisorption decreases with increase in pressure
c) Chemisorption increases with decrease in pressure
d) Change of pressure has no effect on Chemisorption

Which of the following is not an assumption of Langmuir model?

a) Energy of adsorption of gas molecules to the adsorbent site is different at different

adsorbing site
b) Maximum amount of adsorption corresponds to a monolayer
c) Desorption rate depends on the amount of material adsorbed onto the solid surface
d) Gas phase molecules are adsorbed on discrete points on the solid surface

Effective diffusivity is a function of

a) Tortuosity factor
b) Constriction factor
c) Pores interconnecting factor
d) All of the above

For a catalytic reaction with order greater than 1 conducted under diffusion-controlled regime
and isothermal conditional, the overall rate of reaction can be increased by

a) Using smaller pellets

b) Increasing the temperature
c) Increasing the concentration at the external pellet surface.
d) Increasing the internal surface area.

Frossling Co-relation for mass transfer for flow around a spherical pellet is
 1 1
3 2
a) Sh=2+0 . 6 Re Sc
1 1
3 2
b) Sh=2+0 . 6 Re Sh
1 1
2 3
c) Sh=2+0 . 6 Re Sh
1 1
2 3
d) Sh=2+0 . 6 Re Sc
For a constant volume reactor, for a gas phase reaction of type, aA + bB → rR + sS, the
relation between partial pressure(p) of A (pA) and total system pressure (P) is

a) pA = pA0 + (a /Δn)(P – P0)

b) pA = pA0 - (a /Δn)(P – P0)
c ) pA = pR0 + (r /Δn)(P – P0)
d) pA = pB0 - (b /Δn)(P – P0)
* 0 subscript indicates the initial condition

The fractional change in volume (εA) is used for

a) constant volume system

b) variable volume system
c) constant density system
d) liquid phase reaction

For parallel reaction, a high reactant concentration favors the reaction of

a) higher order
b) lower order
c) order zero
d) negative order

For reaction in series …….. is the key to the formation of intermediate

a) mixing of fluid of different composition

b) concentration level of reactants
c) contacting pattern of feed streams
d) temperature and pressure

Consecutive reaction A→R→S is characterized by

a) maxima in concentration of A
b) maxima in concentration of R
c) maxima in concentration of S
d) minima in concentration of R
The ratio of moles of reactant converted into the desired product to that converted into
unwanted product is called

a) Operational yield
b) relative yield
c) selectivity
d) none of these

To carry out a multiple reaction where, higher concentration favors higher yield, the suitable
reactor is

a) PFR
b) CSTR
c) CSTR in series
d) Semi batch reactor

In an isothermal PFR with uniform initial concentration, the conversion varies with

a) real time
b) diameter of the reactor
c) length of PFR
d) none of these

Space velocity of 3 hr -1 means that

a) one reactor volume of feed can be processed in 3 hrs

b) three reactors volume of feed can be processed per hr
c) the flow rate of reactants is 5 units per hr
d) none of these.

Long Questions
Assuming a stoichiometry A  R, for a first order gas phase reaction, the size of the plug
flow reactor needed for 99% conversion of pure A feed is 32 liters. In fact however, the
reaction stoichiometry is A  3R. With this correct stoichiometry, find out the required
reactor volume.

A catalyst manufacturing company using spray drying technology small particles can produce
as small as 2 to 5 μm. The density of the particle is 2.0 gm/ cm 3. Calculate the external
surface area of non-porous spherical particles of 2 μm diameter.

Substance A in the liquid reacts to produce D and U as follows:

A ⃗k1 D (Desired product )
A ⃗k2 U ( Undesired product )
Both the reactions are of first order. A feed (C Ao = 1 mol/lit, CDo= 0 and CUo = 0) enters two
mixed reactors in series (τ1 = 2.5 min, τ2 = 5 min). Knowing the composition in the first
reactor (CA1 = 0.4 mol/lit, CD1= 0.4 mol/lit and CU1 = 0.2 mol/lit), find the composition in the
second reactor.

A second order constant density reaction 2A → R is planned to be carried out in a series

combination of two CSTRs of different sizes and a PFR. Find out the best sequencing of the
units to achieve the highest conversion.

( F A =10 kmol /s, K =0 .5 m3 ¿ k. mol . s ,C A =5 k. mol /m3 , V CSTR (small )=5 m3 ,

0 0
3 3
V CSTR (l arg e )=10 m ,V PFR=2 m , x A0=0 )

In an isothermal batch reactor 70% of a liquid reactant is converted in 13 min following first
order kinetics. What space time are needed to effect this conversion in a mixed flow reactor
and in a plug flow reactor.

Derive the expression of residence time distribution function E(t) for a single ideal CSTR and
sketch its curve.

k1 D ⃗
A ⃗ k2 U
Assume that the reaction is occurring in a plug flow reactor. The
reactions are irreversible where the first order reaction is followed by zero order reaction.

That is A ⃗
k1 D
follows first order kinetics with rate equation (-rA) = k1CA and the reaction
D k⃗2 U follows zero order kinetics with rate equation (-rD) = k2 . Find the maximum
concentration of D, CD, max.

Substance A in the liquid phase decomposes to produce D and U as follows:

A ⃗k1 D (Desired product ) , rate equation r D=k 1 C2A , k 1 =0 . 4 m 3 . mol -1 . min -1

A ⃗k2 U ( Undesired product ) , rate equation r U =k 2 C A , k 2=2 min−1

An aqueous feed (CAo = 40 mol/m3, CDo= 0 and CUo = 0) enters a plug flow reactor, reacts and
a mixture of A, D, U leaves. Calculate CD, CU, and the space time. The conversion is 90%.
Show that the irreversible first order reaction is a special case of the reversible reaction when
XAe = 1 (CAe = 0, or Kc = ∞).

A first order liquid phase reaction A ⇔ P takes place in a batch reactor. After 8 mins the
conversion is 33.33%, while the equilibrium conversion is 66.7%. Find the rate equation to
represent this reaction. Take CA0 = 0.05 mol/l and CP0 = 0.

The following data are obtained at 0 oC in a constant volume batch reactor using pure gaseous
A:

Time, min 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 ∞

Partial pressure of 760 600 475 390 320 275 240 215 150
A, mm Hg

⃗
The stoichiometry of the reaction is A k 2.5P. Find the rate expression that satisfactorily
represents this decomposition.

Explain catalytic active agent, catalyst support, catalyst promoters, Catalyst inhibitors with
examples.

A homogeneous liquid phase reaction, A  R, - rA = k CA2, takes place with 50% conversion
in a mixed reactor.
(a) what will be the conversion, if this reactor is replaced by one 6 times as large – all else
remaining unchanged?
(b) What will be the conversion, if the original reactor is replaced by a plug flow reactor of
equal size – all else remaining unchanged?

Hydromethylation of toluene reaction is given as T+H(g)→B+M(g), where, T is toluene, H is

hydrogen, B is Benzene and M is methane. The reaction mechanism is proposed as follows:
A) T+S↔T.S
B) T. S+H→B.S+M
C) B. S↔B+S
Assuming step B (i.e.-irreversible surface reaction) to be the rate limiting step. Deduce the
rate law.

A first order reaction is to be carried out in a series of two reactors. Show that, the total
volume of the two reactor is minimum when they are of equal size.

Derive the performance equation of a CSTR.

Write down the significance of Thiele Modulus and how the impregnation of the active
catalytic agent has to be done based on Thiele Modulus value.

Describe the sol-gel method of catalyst preparation process with neat diagram

Spherical catalyst of particle size 4 mm is used in the reaction with rate constant 2× 10 -5
l/mol. s. The effective diffusivity is 5×10-6 cm2/s, and initial concentration is 0.25 M. What is
the value of Thiele modulus?

Show graphically, that the performance of a PFR is better than that of a CSTR.

The rate constant of a zero-order reaction is 0.2 mol/ (lit.hr). What is the initial concentration
of the reactant, if after half an hour, the concentration of reactant is 0.05 mol/l.

Describe Differential method of analysis.

Write down the BET adsorption isotherm equation and define its all term and also state about
the determination of surface area of catalyst

Write down Frossling correlation with its significance.

Calculate the mass flux of reactant A to a single catalyst pellet 1 cm in diameter suspended in
a large body of liquid. The reactant is present in dilute concentrations, and the reaction is
considered to take place instantaneously at the external pellet surface (i.e. CAs ≃ 0 ¿ . The bulk
concentration of the reactant is 103 mol/m3, and the free-system liquid velocity is 0.1 m/s. The
kinematic viscosity is 0.5 centistoke and the liquid diffusivity of A is 10-10 m2/s. T=300 K.

Show that the irreversible first order reaction is a special case of the reversible reaction when
XAe = 1 (CAe = 0, or Kc = ∞).

Species A, which is present in dilute concentrations, is diffusing at steady state from the bulk
fluid through a stagnant film of B of thickness to the external surface of the catalyst (shown
in below figure). The concentration of A at the external boundary is CAb and at the external
catalyst surface is CAs, with CAb > CAs. Because the thickness of the “hypothetical stagnant
film” next to the surface is small with respect to the diameter of the particle (i.e., δ << d p), we
can neglect curvature. Determine the concentration profile and the flux of A to the surface
using shell balance equations.
A mass transfer-limited reaction is being carried out in two reactors of equal volume and
packing, connected in series (Fig.-1). Currently, 86.5% conversion is being achieved with this
arrangement. It is suggested that the reactors be separated and the flow rate be divided
equally among each of the two reactors to decrease the pressure drop and hence the pumping
requirements (Fig.-2). Then, how much conversion can be achieved?

Derive the expression for internal effectiveness factor (ɳ) for a first order reaction in an
isothermal spherical catalyst.

Consider the gas phase reaction N 2O4 → 2 NO2, find out the partial pressure
relationship of N2O4 (A) and NO2 (B), starting with pure N2O4.

The second-order decomposition reaction (A→B+2C) is carried out in a tubular reactor

packed with catalyst pellets 0.4 cm in diameter. The reaction is internal-diffusion-limited.
Pure A enters the reactor at superficial velocity of 3 m/s, a temperature of 250 0C, and a
pressure of 4.94 atmosphere. Experiments carried out on smaller pellets where surface
reaction is limiting yielded a specific reaction rate of 50 m6/g.s.mol. The length of bed in μm
necessary to achieve 75% conversion is___.

Additional information;
Effective diffusivity: 2.66×10-8 m2/s
Bulk density: 2 ×106 gm/m3
Internal surface area: 400 m2/gm
Porosity: εb=0.4
 ' 0.56 p A
The rate equation for butanol dehydrogenation is given by −r a = 2 mol/h. gm of
( 1+ 2.04 p A )
(1− X)
cat. Where, p A = p A 0 atm. Find the approximate weight of the catalyst required for
(1+ X )
90% conversion in Plug flow reactor (PFR) and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).
Data Given: pA0=10 atm., FA0 =10 mol/min. Assume isothermal and isobaric condition.

Show that for a first order reaction, the time required for 75% conversion is double to that
required for 50% conversion.

A pulse tracer of amount 3.7 mg is injected to a stirred vessel through the feed stream.
The following table shows the measured tracer concentration in the outflow stream.
Calculate the mean residence time.

Time, (sec) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Concentration, 0 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.65 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.08 0.04 0.02 0
(mg/L)

A first-order heterogeneous irreversible reaction (A → B) is taking place within a spherical

catalyst pellet which is plated with platinum throughout the pellet. The reactant concentration
halfway between the external surface and the center of the pellet (i.e., r = R/2) is equal to
one-tenth the concentration of pellet’s external surface. The concentration at the external
surface is 0.001 gmole/cm3, the diameter (2R) is 2 ×10-3 cm, and the diffusion co-efficient is
0.1 cm2/s, Thiele modulus =0.6. Find the concentration of reactant at a distance of 3×10 -4 cm
in from the external pellet surface in gmole/cm3?