1) Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a disinfectant used in municipal water-treatment

plants. It dissolves in basic solution producing ClO3– and ClO2–:

2ClO2 (aq) + 2OH– (aq) → ClO3– (aq) + ClO2– (aq) + H2O (l)

Of the following, which would not be a proper expression to relate information about the
rate of the reaction?

1. DClO2/Dt = 2DClO3–/Dt
2. DClO2/Dt = DOH–/Dt
3. DClO2/Dt = DClO2–/Dt
4. DOH–/Dt = 2DClO2–/Dt

D = delta = change

Choice 3 is not a proper expression for the relative rates of this reaction. The
stoichiometry of the reaction indicates that ClO2 disappears twice as fast as ClO2–
forms; so to determine the rate for ClO2 , the rate of ClO2– would have to be
doubled.

Section 12.1: Reaction Rates

2) The average rate for the disappearance of NO2 between the time intervals given
in the table shows a gradually slowing rate. Which statement correlates with the data?
1. The rates represent the average within 50 second intervals. These are not the
same even though the times are the same because instantaneous rates were not used.
2. If the rate were taken from 0 → 250 seconds, the rate obtained would be more
meaningful.
3. As NO2 decomposes the rate at which it does so over a 50 second interval is
constant.
4. The instantaneous rates would decrease with time, but could be taken within a 50
second interval.

Answer: Choice 4 supplies correct information. The instantaneous rates would

decrease over time (as average rates do), would have different values than those
listed, and could be taken at any time.

Section 12.1: Reaction Rates

3) A reaction is shown to be first order with respect to one reactant, with a second
order dependency on another reactant. Which statement makes an accurate comment
about these two observations?

1. Assuming no temperature change, doubling the concentration of both reactants

would cause the reaction rate to double.
2. Assuming no temperature change, doubling the concentration of both reactants
would cause the reaction rate to increase by a factor of four.
3. Assuming no temperature change, doubling the concentration of both reactants
would cause the reaction rate to increase by a factor of five.
4. Assuming no temperature change, doubling the concentration of both reactants
would cause the reaction rate to increase by a factor of eight.

Answer: Choice 4 provides the correct response for how doubling the concentration
in this case would affect the reaction rate. Doubling the concentration for a first
order dependency would double the rate. However, doubling the concentration
when there is a second order dependency would quadruple the rate. The combined
effect would then be an eight-fold increase.

Section 12.3: Determining the Form of the Rate Law

4) While studying the shelf life of a particular antibiotic a chemist found that when
the initial concentration was 0.0036 M the rate of decay was 1.5 × 10–4 mol/L s. In
another experiment under the same conditions a concentration of 0.0013 M decayed at a
rate of 1.9 × 10–5 mol/L s. What is the order of this decay reaction?

1. More information is needed. This cannot be determined from

only two experiments.
2. Zero order
3. First order
4. Second order
Answer: Choice 4 shows the correct order. (rate 2/rate 1) = (conc2/conc1)m.
To solve for m, take the ln of both sides of the equation. This yields ln (rate 2/rate 1)
= m ln (conc2/conc1); solving for m = 2

Section 12.3: Determining the Form of the Rate Law

5) A specific ingredient in a nutritional supplement can slowly decompose while still
in the package. The specific rate constant for the first order kinetics of this decay, at
25.0°C, is 4.2 × 10–5 hr–1. If the initial concentration were considered to be 100.0%
how long would it take to be reduced to 75.0% of its potency?

1. 6,800 hours
2. 32,000 hours
3. –6,800 hours
4. 2,900 hours

Choice 1 provides the correct answer. As the reaction is known to be first order the
integrated rate law would be ln(Ao/A) = kt;
Ao = 100.0%; A = 75.0%; k = 4.2 × 10–5 hr–1. In this case
t = 6,800 hours. Note two significant digits.

Section 12.4: The Integrated Rate Law

6) Two reactions have the same rate. One reaction is first order whereas the other is
second order. Which comment about the half lives of both reactions is accurate?

1. As their rates are equal, their half lives will be equal.

2. The half life of the second order reaction will be twice that of
the other.
3. The half life of the second order reaction will be 1/2 that of the
other.
4. No direct comparison can be made with only that information.

Answer: Choice 4 correctly points out that the comparison cannot be made.
The half life equation for a first order equation is t1/2 = 0.693/k. The half life for a
second order reaction has an initial concentration dependency; t1/2 = 1/(k [Ao])

Section 12.4: The Integrated Rate Law

7) Which of the following represents a correct conclusion based on the information

presented in this figure?
1. The forward reaction is endothermic.
2. The activation energy for the forward reaction is less than the activation energy of
the reverse reaction.
3. The transition state is at a lower energy than the products.
4. The energy of the reactants represents a lower energy level than both the
transition state and the products.

Answer: Choice 2 properly relates the activation energy of the forward

reaction to the other observations. From the reactants to the transition state the
energy change is less than from the products to the transition state.

Section 12.7: A Model for Chemical Kinetics

8) The second diagram in this figure shows …

1. that a greater fraction of molecules may encounter effective collisions because the
catalyst increases the energy of the collisions.
2. that a greater fraction of molecules may encounter effective collisions because the
activation energy is lowered by the catalyst.
3. that a lower fraction of molecules may encounter effective collisions because
adding a catalyst decreases the number of collisions thereby increasing the opportunity
for a reaction from reactant to product.
4. that a greater fraction of molecules may encounter effective collisions because a
catalyst provides an alternate pathway that can raise the activation energy.

Answer: Choice 2 indicates the proper connection between a catalyst and the
increased rate of a reaction. The alternate pathway for the reaction provided by a
catalyst lowers the activation energy. The graph shows that the Ea value has shifted
to the left along the x axis.

Section 12.8: Catalysis

9) What role, as suggested in this figure, does the
metal surface play in the reaction to add H atoms to a
saturated C to C double bond?
1. The metal acts to absorb H2 and change it to 2H so
that it can be added to the double bond; once this is
completed the metal is ready to do this again.
2. The metal acts as a homogeneous catalyst to promote
the hydrogenation of the compound with the double
bond.
3. The metal has a greater attraction for C2H6 than for
C2H4. This assists, as a catalyst, the completion of the
reaction.

Answer:
Choice 1 provides a correct interpretation of the figure. The
metal surface, through a series of steps, catalyzes the reaction.
First the H2 is adsorbed to the surface of the metal. Then the
separated H atoms migrate closer to the C2H4 molecules
where the reaction takes place. Finally, the products can
escape the surface (this is called desorption). Without the
available metal surface more energy would be required to
separate the H2 molecules into atoms prior to its reaction
with C2H4.

Section 12.8: Catalysis