IMPORTANT SHORT QUESTIONS CHAPTER NO.

11 CHEMICAL KINETICS
F.Sc PART (I) CHEMISTRY
Q;1 Why a radioactive decay is always a first order reaction?
Ans; A radioactive decay always involves a single chemical species i.e a single atom whose
concentration is raised by one in rate equation .For example, radioactive decay of 92U235 is a first
order reaction as follows
rate of radioactive decay of 92U235 =[92U235]1
2.What is meant by proper orientation during a collision?
Ans; During a chemical reaction, reacting species collide among themselves .If colliding molecules
collide with significant kinetic energy ,they get activation energy and form activated complex and
and products are formed. This all means proper orientation.
3.Differentiate between average and instantaneous rate of reaction.

Instantaneous rate Average Rate

The rate of reaction during a reaction at any one The rate of reaction between two specific time
instant. intervals.
At first instantaneous rate is higher than At the end average rate is greater than
average rate . instantaneous rate.
4.What is specific rate constant or velocity constant? Give example.
Ans; The specific rate constant of a chemical reaction is the rate of reaction when the concentrations
of the reactants are unity.
For example ,for a general reaction aA + bB cC + dD
a b
Rate of reaction=K[A] [B]
if [A]=1 and [B]=1 then
Rate of reaction=K[1]a[1]b ⇒Rate of reaction=K
Q;5 Define order of a reaction with an example.
Ans;The sum of exponents to which the concentrations of reactants are raised in rate equation or
rate expression.
Take a general reaction aA + bB cC + dD
Rate of reaction=K[A]a[B]b
The sum of exponents is (a+b).This will be the order of the above given reaction.
Q;6 Define Pseudo first order reaction with example.
Ans; A reaction in which one of the reactants is taken in large excess while other in required amount.
So excess reactant concentration does not affect the reaction and order of the reaction is 1 st instead
of 2nd.Such type of reactions are called as Pseudo first order reaction
For example;
Reaction between t-butylbromide and water
(CH3)3CBr +H2O (CH3)3COH + HBr
Rate of reaction =K[t-butylbromide]1
Q;7 What is a fractional order reaction? Give example.
Ans; A Reaction in which one reactant experiences consumption of half molecule instead of one and
overall order of the reaction comes to be as fraction but not as whole number.
For example; Reaction between methane and chlorine molecule
CH4 +Cl2 CH3Cl +HCl
Rate of reaction =K[CH4]1[1/2Cl2]0.5 ⇒1+0.5=1.5
Q;8What is meant by zero order reaction? Give an example.
Ans; A reaction in which order of the reaction is independent of reactants and depends upon
conditions only is known as zero order reaction.
For example All photochemical reactions which occur only in the presence of sunlight e.g
photosynthesis.
Q;9Define half life with an example.
Ans; Half life period of a reaction is the time required to convert 50% of the reactants into products.
For example The half life period for the decomposition of N2O5 at 45 ∘C is 24 minutes.
Q;10 How does half life is related with order of the reaction?
Ans; The half life period of any order reaction is ,thus, inversely proportional to the initial
concentration raised to the power one less than the order of that reaction.
Mathematical form
[t1/2]n α 1/an-1
Q;11 What is rat determining step? Give example
Ans; If a reaction occurs in several steps, one of the steps is slowest .The rate of this step determines
the overall rate of the reaction. This slowest step is called the rate determining or rate limiting step.
For example The following two step reaction
NO2(g) + NO2(g) NO3(g) + NO(g) ( slow and rate determining step)
NO3(g) + CO(g) NO 2(g) + CO2(g) (fast)
Q;12 What is meant by a reaction intermediate? Give example
Ans; The reaction intermediate is a highly unstable chemical species relative to reactants and
products and has temporary existence.
For example
NO2(g) + NO2(g) NO3* (g) + NO(g)
In above reaction NO3* is a reaction intermediate which decomposes in 2 nd step
NO3* (g) + CO(g) NO 2(g) + CO2(g)
Q;13 What is meant Q;1 Why a radioactive decay is always a first order reaction?

3.Differentiate between average and instantaneous rate of reaction.

4.What is specific rate constant or velocity constant? Give example.

Q;6 Define Pseudo first order reaction with example.

Q;8What is meant by zero order reaction? Give an example

Q;11 What is rat determining step? Give example

an example.

by transition state? Give an example.

OR What is activated complex?
Ans; Take a general reaction
A A A A A A

B B B B B B
reactants activated complex products
Activated complex is an unstable combination of all the atoms involved in the reaction in which the
energy is maximum .It is a short lived species and decomposes into the products immediately .It has
a transient existence ,that is why it is also called a transition state.
Q;1 Why a radioactive decay is always a first order reaction?

2.What is meant by proper orientation during a collision?

OR What is activated complex

? Ans; The sum of exponents

Q;14 Define order of the reaction and mention two methods to find it?
Ans; The sum of exponents to which the concentrations of reactants are raised in rate equation or
rate expression .
Methods to find
a)Half life method
b)Method of large excess
Q;16 Mention four methods to find order of a reaction.
Ans; There are following four methods.
a)Half life method
b)Method of large excess
c)Graphical method
d)Hit and trial method
Q;16 How order of a reaction is find out by half life method?
Q;17 How method of large excess is used to find order of a reaction.

Q;18.The rate of a chemical reaction is the ever-changing parameter under a given condition.
Justify it.
Ans;The rate of a chemical reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of reactants. As the
reaction precedes the concentration of reactants decreases so the rate of reaction also decreases.
The rate is maximum at beginning and minimum at the end of the reaction.
Q;19 The reaction rate decreases every moment but the rate constant “k” is a constant quantity
under the given conditions. Explain.
Ans;The rate of reaction depends upon the concentration of reactants which changes every moment
so the rate also changes. But the rate constant “k” is equal to the rate of reaction when the
concentration of reactants is one.
A+B C+D
Rate = k [A] [B]
Q;20 50% of a hypothetical first-order reaction completes in one hour. The remaining 50% need
more than one hour to complete. Explain.
Ans; The concentration of reactants decreases with the passage of time. The half-life period of the
first-order reaction is independent of initial concentration. If the initial concentration is “a” then
after the half-life period “a/2” concentration remains. And after the next half-life period, “a/4”
concentration remains.
Q;21 The sum of the coefficients of a balanced chemical equation is not necessarily important to
give the order of a reaction. Justify.
Ans; Order of a reaction depends upon on that reactants whose concentration is altered as a result
of chemical reaction and such reactant is in limited amount.
For example; In given reaction, reaction should be 2nd order but water is in large concentration and
hence ,it concentration is not altered and order comes to be 1 st.
(CH3)3CBr +H2O (CH3)3COH + HBr
Rate of reaction =K [t-butylbromide]1
Q;22 The order of a reaction is obtained from rate expression and rate expression is obtained from
experiment. Justify it
Ans; In given reaction water being in excess concentration ,its conc. is not altered and reaction rate
does not depend upon water when it is verified by experiment and rate equation becomes
(CH3)3CBr +H2O (CH3)3COH + HBr
Rate of reaction =K [t-butylbromide]1
and by using this rate equation reaction is first order instead of second order.
Q;23 Differentiate between fast and rate determining step.

Fast step Rate determining step

The step in which reactants have sufficient The step in which reactants does not have
amount of energy (activation energy) sufficient amount of energy (activation energy)
NO3* (g) + CO(g) NO 2(g) + CO2(g) NO2(g) + NO2(g) NO3* (g) + NO(g)
Q;24 Differentiate between enthalpy change and activation energy of a reaction

Enthalpy change Activation energy

The difference in heat between reactants and The minimum amount of energy required to
products in a chemical reaction start a chemical reaction
It is represented by ΔH=Hp -HR It is represented by Ea