Kinetics

1. Iodine reacts with propanone in the presence of an acid catalyst. The balanced chemical equation for this
reaction is:
I2 + CH3COCH3 → HI + CH3COCH2I
A chemist wishes to investigate the factors affecting the rate of this reaction, in order to write a rate
equation.

(a) In his first experiment the chemist added some aqueous sulfuric acid to some propanone. A large
excess of iodine was then added. The chemist then measured the concentration of propanone in the
mixture as the reaction started. Further measurements were taken every minute for ten minutes. The
following data were obtained.
concentration of
time / minutes
CH3COCH3
0 0.100
1 0.078
2 0.061
3 0.047
4 0.036
5 0.029
6 0.022
7 0.017
8 0.014
9 0.011
10 0.008
(i) On the grid below, draw a line graph of the data.

[3]
(ii) Use your graph to show that the reaction is first order with respect to propanone.
Any working done on the graph must be clearly shown and explained below.
 [2]

(iii) State why a large excess of iodine was used.

[1]

(iv) State why it was not necessary to use a large excess of aqueous sulfuric acid.

[1]

(b) In his next series of experiments the chemist prepared various mixtures of propanone, aqueous
sulfuric acid and iodine, and measured the initial rates of reaction. His results are summarised in the table
below.

[CH3COCH3] [H+] [I2] initial rate

experiment
/ mol dm–3 / mol dm–3 / mol dm–3 / mol dm–3 s–1

1 0.200 0.100 0.100 1.61 ×10–6

2 0.200 0.100 0.050 1.63 × 10–6

3 0.200 0.100 0.020 1.60 × 10–6

4 0.200 0.060 0.100 9.68 × 10–7

5 0.200 0.030 0.100 4.83 × 10–7

(i)Deduce the order of the reaction with respect to [H+]. Explain your reasoning.
[2]

(ii) Deduce the order of the reaction with respect to [I2]. Explain your reasoning.
[2]
(iii) Complete the rate equation for the reaction between iodine and
propanone.

rate = [1]

(iv) Calculate the value of the rate constant k. The units of k are not
required. [1]

2. This question is about rate of reaction and chemical equilibria.

(a) The activation energy, Ea, for a reaction involving the gas is shown in Fig. 6.1.
Label on Fig. 6.1 the activation energy, Ecat, when a catalyst is present.
Sketch on Fig. 6.1 the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve for the same sample of gas
at a lower temperature. Label this curve TL. [2]

(b) Two gases, A and B, react to form compound C.

A+B→C
The initial rate of this reaction is measured in a series of experiments at a constant
temperature.
The rate equation is determined.
rate = k [A] [B]
2

(i) Use the data from experiment 1 to calculate a value for the rate constant k at this
temperature and deduce its units. Give your answer to two decimal place. [2]
(ii) Calculate a value for the initial rate in experiment 2. Quote your answer to two
significant figures. [1]
(iii) A proposed two-step mechanism for the reaction A + B → C is the following:
2A + B → A2B
A 2B + B → C
Identify a rate determining step using the rate equation. Explain your answer. [1]

3. Reaction kinetics is the study of the rates of chemical reactions.

(a) Explain the effect of the surface area of reactants on reaction rates. [3]
(b) The results of rate measurements of the reaction between A, B, and C compounds are given in the table
below.

(i) Deduce the order of reaction with respect to A, B and C, and the overall order of the
reaction. [3]

(ii) Write the rate equation for the reaction. [1]

(iii) Calculate a value for the rate constant including units. [2]
4. 9701/42/F/M/19 Q1(d)
5. 9701/41/O/N/20 Q1
6. 9701/42/O/N/20 Q1
7. 9701/41/M/J/20 Q9c
8. 9701/42/F/M/20 Q3(b)
9. 9701/41/M/J/21 Q5
10. 9701/42/M/J/21 Q7
11. 9701/42/F/M/21 3d
12. 9701/41/O/N/22 Q2
13. 9701/42/O/N/22 Q2