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Chemical Kinetics
Chemical Kinetics
1
CHEMICAL KINETICS
In kinetics, the following questions are important.
How far does the reaction go and what is the position of equilibrium?
Thermodynamics deals with energy associated with equilibrium called
Gibbs free energy (G).
The free energy change, G RT ln K eq .
Where Keq is the equilibrium constant.
G that
ve eq 1 (large),
it implies
When the
, Ksystem is at equilibrium.
G ve, K eq 1 (small) and G 0 ,
How fast does the reaction go? This is the concern of kinetics.
Kinetics also examines the detailed pathway that a reaction goes through
in going from reactants to products.
Thus giving us an insight into the reaction mechanism.
The rate of chemical reactions is usually followed at constant temperature
by measuring:
either the decrease in concentration of the reactants
A B Product
d A d B d P
Rate k A B, k = rate constant ( M 1s 1 )
dt dt dt
Since A and B decreases with time, rate must also decrease.
It also provides a more convenient measure of reaction velocity than does the experimentally
measured.
Rate Law: - Expression which gives the rate of reaction as a function of the concentrations of
some of the reactants.
dx
e.g. k A B etc. which is rate law, k = rate constant.
dt
A or B = concentrations of A or B .
Order of a Reaction: This is the sum of the power of the concentration terms in the differential
rate law or in the rate determining step.
This is experimental quantity which cannot be predicted from the equation of the reaction.
Differential Rate Equations
d P
If experimentally we found that k A , the reaction is 1st order,
dt
k is first order rate constant.
d P
k A B , overall reaction is 2nd order; k is second order rate constant.
dt
d P
k A B , k is 2nd order with respect to A or B but overall order is 4th order.
2 2
If
dt
This shows that the reaction is not elementary- It occurs in a series of consecutive steps
(mechanism) the sum of which represents the overall stoichiometry.
In such a case, some steps are slow while others are fast. The slowest step is called the rate-
determining step. E.g.
Molecularity: - This is the number of chemical species which are involved in the rate
determining step. It is a theoretical quantity 1, 2, 3, unimolecular, bimolecular and
termolecular.
CH 3 CHO CH 4 CO
2 N 2 O 5 4 NO 2 O 2 , (Unimolecu lar)
2 NO O 2 2 NO 2 , (Termolecu lar)
To show the mechanism, let consider the unimolecular decomposition of N 2 O 5 .
N 2 O 5 N 2 O *5 (Unstable i.e. energised molecule and rate determining step)
N 2 O *5 NO 2 NO 3 , (Fast)
Lets consider:
At time, t 0 a 0
tt ax x
d A d a x
Rate k1 a x
dt dt
dx
Rate k a x
dt
dx
kdt
ax
x dx t
o ax
= kdt
0
ln a x kt ln a
ln a l a x kt
a
ln k1 t , where k rate constant or
ax
k1
A plot of log a x versur t gives a straight line with slope and intercept log a .
2.303
A B C Product
depend on the concentration of any of the reactants, k zero order rate constant.
d P
(ii) Rate
dt
k A moldm 3 s 1 . The reaction is first order, k first order rate constant (
s 1 )
d P
(iii) Rate
dt
2 2
k A B or k A or k B moldm 3 s 1 . The reaction is second order,
k mol 1dm 3 s 1 or M 1s 1
d P
(iv) Rate
dt
2 3
k A BC or k A B or k A moldm 3s 1 . The reaction is third order,
k mol 2 dm 6 s 1 or M 2 s 1 .
Half-life: The time taken for half of the reactants to go to products designated by t 1 .
2
a a
t 1 a x , x
2 2 2
a
kt 1 2.303 log 2.303 log 2 0.69
a
2
2
0.69
t1 .
2
k1
Half-life period of any first order reaction is independent of the initial concentration i.e. it takes
a
First order reaction just as much time to go halfway to completion when the initial
concentration is high as when is low.
2A P
a 0 when t 0
ax x When t t
d A
k A
2
dt
d a x dx
k a x
2
kdt
dt a x 2
x dx t
Integrate a x
0 2
kdt
0
Let (a x) u , dx du or dx du
x du t
0 u2
0 kdt
u 2 du k dt
x t
0 0
u 21 t 01
k
2 1 0 1
1
Plot of against t gives a straight line with a slope k 2 .
a x
When A and B are different i.e. not the same concentration
A B Product
a b 0 when t 0
a x b x x When t t
2.303 ba x
k2 log
t a b a b x
ba x a b k 2 t b
log log
a b x 2.303 a
ba x a
Plot of log against t gives slope k 2 and intercept log .
a b x b
Experimental determination of order of reaction
Experimentally when a reaction involves two reactants, the reaction is carried out by keeping
one of them constant and then varying the other and the rate increases in proportion to the
increase in the concentration of the varied reactant.
Examples
Rate A
1 10 2 0.1
2 10 2 0.1
3 10 2 0.3
It means is directly proportional to concentration of A , meaning that the rate is first order with
respect to reactant A i.e. R A
Rate A
1 10 2 0.1
4 10 2 0.2
9 10 2 0.3
It means that R A 2 which shows that rate is second order respect to reactant A .
2.0y 4
y2
It is shows that the order with respect to B is second order and R k B2 . Consider experiment
(i) & (iii),
2.0x 2
x 1
It means the rate is first order with respect to A and R k A . The overall rate equation for
the reaction is R k A B2 , hence the overall order of the reaction is third order.
If we are to calculate the rate constant, we can take any experiment as follows,
R k A B k A B
x y 2
R k 1.01.0
2
k 1.2 10 2 mol 2 dm 6 s 1
For experiment 2
R 1.02.0
2
4.8 10 2 k 4
4.8 10 2
k 1.2 10 2 mol -2 dm 6 s -1
4
The third experiment also gives similar result showing that the rate is constant all through.
Time (min) 0 5 10 20
Question 2: The following data in the hydrolysis of acetate at 25 o C in the presence of 0.35 N
HCl used as catalyst produces the following data,
From the above data shows that the hydrolysis of acetate is first order.
2.303 V Vo
k log
t V Vt
V Vo
The rate constant is obtained from the slope of the plot of log versus t which gives
V Vt
2.303
a slope .
k
Theoretical treatment of Reaction Rates
Collision theory: - The application of the simple kinetic theory of gases to the rate of the bio
molecular process:
A B Product , is based on the reasonable assumption that for the reaction to take place;
(b) The energy of the colliding molecules must be at least equal to the activation energy (
E ) or Ea
The rate of the reaction is therefore equal to the number of effective collisions per second in
unit volume of the reacting gas.
E
3 1
Total number of effective collision / cm s e RT
. If the concentration of A & B are n A & n B
molecules / cm 3 respectively, then, total number of collision / cm 3 s 1 Zn A n B . Where Z the
collision number is equal to the collision frequency when the concentration of A & B are one
molecule / cm 3 . Since reaction rate number of effective collisions / cm 3s 1 ,
E
Rate Zn A n B e RT
.
According to the simple collision theory, the A factor of the Arrhenius equation for
biomolecular reaction is equal to the collision number Z which can be calculated from kinetic
theory expression. Z and A , are compared for a number of reactions and good agreements
observed for reactions involving simple molecules suggest that conditions (a) and (b) are
sufficient in these cases. For reactions between larger molecules where A is less than Z , it
appears that the additional condition (c) must also be satisfied, (c) the molecules must be
suitably oriented on collision this condition can be taken into account by the introduction of a
A
steric or probability factor P into the equation such that k 1 .
Z
The Transition state theory
This approach treats the reaction in terms of equilibrium between reactants A & B and the
transition state complex AB at the top of the potential energy barrier.
The difference in the potential energy of the reactants and the complex is defined as the
activation energy of the reaction. If reaction must take place between A & B , the interacting
molecules must acquire activation energy E a and form a transition complex which can then
decomposed, either to yield the products of the reaction or to reproduce the reactants.
The transition state theory treats the activated complex as a molecular entity with definite
thermodynamic properties. It proposes that it is the concentration of this transition complex,
and more particularly the rate of its breakdown, that determines the rate of the reaction. The
overall reaction can thus be represented as follows: A B AB P Q , # denotes
transition state quantity. E a H RT .
Factors Determining the Rate of Reaction
Nature of the reactant: - surface area of the reactant affects the rate of reaction. Faster in
powdered form than in granular form.
Increase in temperature also alter the distribution of molecular energy to the extent that one
molecule acquire higher kinetic energy. At higher temperature the energies of molecules are
distributed and more molecules acquire more kinetic energies greater than activation energy
leading to increase in the rate of reaction.
Ea
Arrhenius equation shows the temperature dependence of rate of reactions as k Ae . WhereRT
k rate constant, A frequency factor concerned with the number of collisions per unit time,
and the orientation of the reacting species during collision, E a Activation energy, R =
Universal gas constant and T = Temperature in kelvin.
Ea
ln k ln A
RT
Ea
log k log A
2.303RT
1
If rates are studied at different temperatures and log k is plotted against , a straight line is
T
Ea
obtained with slope . From the slope E a can be easily determined. Alternatively
2.303R
studying rate of reactions at two temperatures T1T2 can also enable us to calculate, E a thus-
Ea
log k1 log A ............................................................ (1)
2.303RT1
Ea
log k 2 log A ............................................................ (2)
2.303RT2
k Ea 1 1
log 1
k2 2.303R T2 T1
k E a T1 T2
log 1
k2 2.303R T2 T1
(a) The catalyst remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction
(b) A catalyst does not alter the position of chemical equilibrium but accelerates the
approach to chemical equilibrium by equally affecting the forward and reverse rates
(c) A small amount of catalyst will promote a large amount of chemical change
Examples: -
(2) 2H 2 O 2
Pt
2H 2 O
H
(3) CH 3 COCH3 Br2 CH 3 COCH 2 Br HBr
Many reactions in biological systems are catalysed by enzymes.
Two broad types of catalysis are recognized depending on the kinetic classification of reaction
types. They are:
Homogeneous catalysis: - This is when all the reactants are in the same phase ( gases, liquids
and solids) with catalyst. Example 3 is a representation of this type.
Heterogeneous catalysis: - This is when all the reactants including the catalyst are not in the
same phase. The catalyst constitutes an additional phase as in example 2.
General Acid or Base Catalysis
Many reaction catalysed by acid are also catalysed by many substance which are acid or the
Bronsted acid (proton donor). This is general acid catalysis. Similarly for general base catalysis
not only OH but also Bronsted base (proton acceptor) can act as base catalyst.
K K o K acid C acid K base C base . Where K is the specific rate constant for overall reaction,
K o is the specific rate constant for non-catalysed reaction, such as occurs in neutral solution,
K acid & K base are catalyst coefficient of acid and bases and C acid & C base are the concentration
of the reacting species.
Mechanism of Catalyst in Acid – Base Catalyst
O O H
CH3
O CH3
O-
OH
H3C O
H3 C C O+
C
CH3 + CH3
O+ H
+
O
H H
H
H
O
+
H 3 O+
H3 C C OH
Enzyme Catalysis
Catalysis of chemical reaction in living organism by enzymes of biological origin are extremely
specific e.g. hydrolysis of starch 2C 6 H 10 O 5 n nH 2 O Diatase
nC12 H 22 O11 (i.e. starch
converted to maltose sugar)
and C 6 H 12 O 6 Zymase
2C 2 H 5 OH 2CO 2 .
(1) Hydrolytic enzyme: - This is a complex acid but a catalyst that accelerates ionic
reaction by the transfer of H .
Mainly Michaelis and Menten mechanism or scheme explain this mechanism as written below,
k1
E S ES *
k3
EP
k2
Vmax S
Vo
K m S
A B AB uncatalysed
A C AC* catalysed
AC* B AB C
The catalyst through its intermediate provides a pathway of lower energy thereby accelerating
the reaction.
Adsorption or surface Theories: - Usually catalyst is solid and the reactant is gaseous or
liquid and the reaction is heterogeneous. Langmuir suggested that action depends on adsorption
of reactant on solid catalyst the adsorbed molecule is then activated probably by weakling the
reactant bonds in it through adsorption. The activated adsorbed molecule then decomposes to
product. Steps involved are as follows;
4. Desorption of product
Transition State Picture of Catalysis
According to the transition theory, the presence of a catalyst introduces a new reaction pathway
with a lower E a leading to an increase in the reaction rate.
E a1 is the activation energy without catalyst while E a 2 is the activation energy with catalyst.
E a1 Uncatalysed
Potential energy
E a 2Catalysed
Reactant
Product
Reaction coordinate
Since E a 2 E a1 , the reaction in the presence of catalyst proceeds faster than in its absence. At
the molecular level, the presence of catalyst usually introduces additional reaction intermediate
(with a different activation energy barrier) which are reactive enough to decompose to products
in faster step. Example is in acid catalysed bromination of acetone.
CH 3 COCH3 H CH 3 C OH CH 3 CH 3 COH CH 2
CH 3 COH CH 2 Br2 CH 3 C OH CH 2 Br CH 3 COCH 2 Br H
For a reversible reaction, the presence of catalyst does not affect the entropy of reaction. It does
not alter position of equilibrium but rather fasten the rate with which equilibrium is attained
since both forward and backward reactions go through the same transition state (principle of
reversibility).
Equilibrium
A reversible reaction is one which proceeds in both forward and backward direction i.e.
A B C D , (where k f & k r are the equilibrium constant for both forward and backward
reaction respectively). Equilibrium is achieved when the forward rate is equal to reverse rate
and in such case, the concentration of A, B, C & D are constants. Supply of reactants in both
directions is constantly reviewed so that equilibrium is dynamic. The position of equilibrium
is measured by equilibrium constant K .
Examples:
H2 + I2 2HI
N2 + 3H2 2NH3
K
CD .............................................................................. (2)
AB
Generalized equation, aA bB cC dD
K
C D ....................................................................... (3)
c d
A a Bb
The dynamic nature of equilibrium can be illustrated as follows: - assuming that mechanism of
both forward & backward reaction involve single elementary steps, then
d A
Forward rate = k f A B
dt
d C
Reverse rate = k r CD
dt
At equilibrium both rates are equal
k f A B k r CD
CD k f K
AB k r
This relationship holds whether the reaction is simple elementary step or complicated. When
K 1 equilibrium lies to the right and when K 1 equilibrium lies to the left.
At 25 o C and 1 atm pressure, the equilibrium constant is written as K o and is related to the
standard free energy change as follows, G o RT ln K o 2.303RT log K o .
N 2 g 3H 2 g 2 NH 3 g
K eq
NH 3
2
moldm 3 moldm 3
mol 2 dm 6
N 2 H 2 3
moldm 3 moldm
3 3
pNH 3 2 Nm 2 Nm 2
K eq N 2 m 4
pN 2 pH 2 3 Nm 2
Nm
2 3
Le Chatelier Principle
Effect of a stress on equilibrium such as (a) change in concentration (b) pressure (c)
temperature can be predicted by applying Le Chatelier principle. Le Chatelier Principle states
that ‘A system in equilibrium react to any change in its conditions in a manner that would tend
to abolish this change’. Let us apply this principle to hypothetical examples:
Exothermic
A + 3B 2C + D
Endothermic
2. A substance decomposes according to first order rate law with half-life of 40min. What
fraction of the sample remains after 100min of the reaction
Answer 1
0.693 0.693
t1 4
3150 s
2
k 2.2 10
a
kt 2.303 log
a x
100
2.2 10 4 t 2.303 log
0.1
2.303 3
t 4
31404.5s
2.2 10
a
kt 2.303 log
a x
a
2.2 10 4 3600 2.303 log 4
1. 00 10
a 2.207 1.0 10 4 2.207 10 4 M
Answer 2
0.693 0.693
t1 1.73 10 2 s 1
2
k 40
a
kt 2.303 log
a x
2 a
1.73 10 00 2.303 log
a x
a
log 0.752
a x
a 56
a x 10
ax 5 1
0.178
a 28 5 .6