Scribd
Upload
7K views2 pages

Chemical Kinetics: Complex Reaction Opposing or Reversible Reaction

Chemical reactions can be reversible, with products transforming back into reactants. This opposing or reversible reaction complicates measuring reaction rates. There are several types of opposing reactions, including those where both forward and backward reactions are first order, or where one is first order and the other second order. Considering a general reversible reaction A ⇌ B, the rates of the forward (k1) and backward (k2) reactions can be used to derive an equation to calculate the rate constant k1 based on the initial concentration of A, the equilibrium concentration of B, and time. This allows calculating k2 from the equilibrium expression as well.

Uploaded by

Sowmya Roopesh B. P
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7K views2 pages

Chemical Kinetics: Complex Reaction Opposing or Reversible Reaction

Chemical reactions can be reversible, with products transforming back into reactants. This opposing or reversible reaction complicates measuring reaction rates. There are several types of opposing reactions, including those where both forward and backward reactions are first order, or where one is first order and the other second order. Considering a general reversible reaction A ⇌ B, the rates of the forward (k1) and backward (k2) reactions can be used to derive an equation to calculate the rate constant k1 based on the initial concentration of A, the equilibrium concentration of B, and time. This allows calculating k2 from the equilibrium expression as well.

Uploaded by

Sowmya Roopesh B. P
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chemical Kinetics

Complex Reaction

Opposing or Reversible Reaction


Certain reactions in which product of a chemical change react to form the original reactants
are known as reversible or opposing reactions. In opposing reaction, the net rate of the
reaction will be influenced by both forward and backward rates and that causes serious
disturbance in the measurement of reaction.
Ex: 1. Muta rotation of -D glucose into -D glucose
2. Conversion of ammonium cyanate into urea

There are several types of opposing reaction


1) Both forward and backward reactions are of first order
2) First order reaction is opposed by second order
3) Both forward and backward reactions are of second order
Let us consider the case when the both forward and backward reactions are of first order
k1
A B
k2

Where k1 and k2 represents first order rate constants for the forward and backward reactions
respectively.
Suppose a is initial concentration of A, then after time t, x mole of A decomposed to form B.
Thus the concentration of A after a time t is a-x and that of B is x. Therefore, the rate of
forward and backward reactions equals to k1(a-x) and k2x.
Thus, the net rate of formation of B is
dx
=k 1 ( ax )k 2 x -------(1)
dt
dx
At equilibrium, the net rate is zero, =0
dt
k 1 ( ax e ) k 2 x e=0 --------(2)

k 1(ax e )
k 2= -------------(3)
xe
x e is the equilibrium concentration.

Substituting the value of k2 in equation 1, we get


dx k (ax e )
=k 1 ( ax ) 1 x
dt xe

dx k 1 a ( x e x )
= x -----------(4)
dt xe

dx k adt
On rearranging eqn. 4 we get, = 1 ------------(5)
( xe x ) xe

k 1 at
On integrating we get, ln ( x ex ) = +I ----------(6)
xe

When t=0, x=0, then I =ln xe --------------------(7)


xe x
Substituting eq.7 in eq.6 we get k 1 = ln e -----------(8)
at x e x
Thus value of k1 can be calculated by using eqn. 8. If xe, x and t are known, by substituting
the value of k1 in eq.3 k2 can be calculated.

You might also like