CHAPTER 1: REACTION KINETICS

  SKO25  

MAPPING COGNITIVE
TOPIC SUBTOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES DOMAINS
C1 C2 C3 C4
a) Define reaction rate √
b) Write differential rate equation √
c) Determine reaction rate based on differential rate equation
√
of a reaction
d) Define rate law, order of reaction and half life √
e) Write rate law with respect to the order of reaction √
1.1 Reaction f) Write the integrated rate equation for zero, first and second
√
Rate order reactions
g) Determine the order of reaction involving single reactant
using:
i. Initial rate method
√ √
ii. Half-life based on graph of concentration against time
iii. Linear graph method based on the integrated rate
equation and rate law
h) Perform calculation using integrated rate equations √
a) Explain collision theory √
Reaction b) Define activation energy √
1.2 Collision
Kinetics
Theory c) Explain transition state theory √
d) Draw energy profile diagram of a reaction √
a) Explain the effect of the following factors on the reaction
rate:
i. Concentration or pressure
√
ii. Temperature
iii. Catalyst
iv. Particle size
1.3 Factors b) Illustrate the effect of temperature on the reaction rate using
√ √
Affecting Maxwell Boltzmann Distribution curve
Reaction Rate c) Compare the curve of the energy profile diagram for a
√
reaction with and without catalyst
d) State Arrhenius equation √
e) Explain the relationship between temperature and activation
√
energy to the rate constant based on Arrhenius equation
f) Determine k, Ea, T and A using Arrhenius equation by
√ √
calculation and graph

1.1 REACTION RATE

1 a) Define reaction rate. [ LO : 1.1(a)]

b) Write the differential rate equation for the following reactions. [ LO : 1.1(c)]
i. I (aq) + OCl (aq) ⎯→ Cl (aq) + OI (aq)
− − − −

ii. 3O2(g) ⎯→ 2O3(g)

iii. 4NH3(g) + 5O2(g) ⎯→ 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g)

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2 Consider the reaction:

N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⎯→ 2NH3(g)
Suppose that at a particular moment during the reaction, molecule of hydrogen is reacting at the rate
of 0.074 Ms–1 . Calculate the rate of
a) formation of ammonia.
b) depletion of nitrogen. [ LO : 1.1(d)]
(ANS : (a) 0.049 Ms-1 (b) 0.025 Ms-1)

3 Explain the following terms.

i. Rate law. iii. Order of reaction.
ii. Rate constant. iv. Half-life.
[ LO : 1.1(e)]

4 A reaction in which A, B and C react to form products is first order in A, second order in B and zero
order in C.
a) Write the rate equation.
b) What is the overall order of the reaction?
c) By what factor does the reaction rate change if [A] is doubled (and the other reactant
concentrations are held constant)?
d) By what factor does the reaction rate change if [B] is doubled (and the other reactant
concentrations are held constant)?
e) By what factor does the reaction rate change if [C] is doubled (and the other reactant
concentrations are held constant)?
[ LO : 1.1(f)]
5 The reaction of nitric oxide with hydrogen at 1280°C is
2NO(g) + 2H2(g) ⎯→ N2(g) + 2H2O(l)
The following data was collected at this temperature :

Experiment [NO]/M [H2]/M Initial rate /Ms 1 −

1 5.00×10 3−
2.00×10 3 −
1.25×10 5
−

2 10.00×10 3 −
2.00×10 3 −
5.00×10 5
−

3 10.00×10 3 −
4.00×10 3 −
10.00×10 5 −

Based on the data, determine

a) The rate law.
b) The rate constant. [ LO : 1.1(h)(i)&(f)]
(ANS : (b)250M-2s-1)

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6 The data below were obtained from the following reaction at 27oC .
CH3CH(Cl)CH3 + NaOH ⎯→ CH3CH(OH)CH3 + NaCl
Exp [CH3CH(Cl)CH3] / M [NaOH] / M Reaction rate / M min 1−

1 0.15 0.25 3.0×10 3

−

2 0.15 0.50 6.0×10 3

−

3 0.45 0.25 9.0×10 3

−

a) What is the order with respect to each reactant?

b) Write the rate equation. [ LO : 1.1(h)(i)&(f)]
(ANS : (a) Overall 2nd order)

7 The data listed in the table below were obtained from the following decomposition :
A ⎯→ products
1
Time/min [A]/M ln [A]
[A ]
0 1.00 0.00 1.00
5 0.63 −0.46 1.60
10 0.46 −0.78 2.20
15 0.36 −1.02 2.80
25 0.25 −1.39 4.00

a) Establish the order of the reaction by graphical method.

b) Determine the rate constant, k.
c) Determine the half-life, t1/2, if [A]0 = 1.00 M. [LO : 1.1(h)iv)]
(ANS : (b) 0.12M-1min-1 (c) 8.333min)
8 The conversion of cyclopropane to propene in the gas phase is a first order reaction with a rate
constant of 6.7×10-4 s 1 at 500°C.
−

CH2
⎯
⎯→ H2C CH CH3
H2C CH2
a) If the initial concentration of cyclopropane was 0.25M, calculate the concentration after 8.8 min.
b) How long will it take for the concentration of cyclopropane to decrease from 0.25M to 0.15M?
c) How long will it take to convert 74% of the starting material to propene?
[LO : 1.1(i)&(g)]
(ANS : (a) 0.176M (b) t =762.43s (c) t =2010.56s )

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9 The decomposition of dinitrogen pentoxide with the rate constant of 5.1×10–4 s–1 at 45oC is given
below: 2N2O5(g) ⎯→ 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
a) Calculate the concentration of N2O5 after 3.2 min if the initial concentration is 0.25 M.
b) If the initial concentration of N2O5 is 0.35 M, calculate the time needed for the concentration
to be reduced to
i. to 0.08 M.
ii. by 62%. [ LO : 1.1(h)(i)&(f)]
(ANS : (b)250M-2s-1)

8.2 COLLISION THEORY AND TRANSITION STATE THEORY

10 a) What are the conditions for an effective collision to occur between reactant molecules to form
products?
[ LO : 1.2(a)]
b) State the factor that affect the rate constant, k ? Explain. [ LO : 1.3(e)]

11 Explain the effect of temperature on reaction rate based on Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve.
[ LO : 1.3(b)]

12 The following equation shows the decomposition of HI(g):

Pt
2HBr(g) H2(g) + Br2(g) ΔH = -ve
a) What is the function of platinum? [ LO : 1.3(a)iii]
b) Draw and label the potential energy profile for the reaction with and without platinum.
[ LO : 1.2(d)]
c) Give another two factors that can influence the reaction rate and explain your answer.
[ LO : 1.3(a)]
8.3 FACTORS AFFECTING REACTION RATE

13 a) What is meant by activation energy? [ LO : 1.2(b)]

b) The rate constant of a reaction at 463 K is 2.52×10 5 s 1 and at 503 K is 6.30×10 4 s 1.
− − − −

Determine the activation energy for the reaction. [ LO : 1.3(f)]

(ANS : Ea= 155.81kJmol-1)
c) The rate constant of a reaction is 3.46×10-2 s 1 at 298 K. Calculate the rate constant at 350 K
−

if the activation energy for the reaction is 50.2 kJmol 1. −

[ LO : 1.3(f)]
(ANS : k2 = 0.702s-1)
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14 Rate constants, k for decomposition of hydrogen iodide at different temperatures are given in the
table below :
Rate constant, k ( mol 1 dm3 s 1)
− −
Temperature (K)
3.75×10 9−
500
6.65×10 6−
600
1.15×10 3−
700
7.75×10 2−
800

a) Write the Arrhenius equation. [ LO : 1.3(d)]

b) Determine the activation energy for the decomposition of hydrogen iodide graphically from
the above data. [ LO : 1.3(f)]
(ANS : Ea= 185.68kJmol-1)

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. The rate of formation of water from the reaction:

2MnO4 (aq) + 6H+(aq) + 5H2O2(aq) ⎯→ 2Mn2+(aq) + 8H2O(l) + 5O2(g)
−

is 0.035 M s-1. What is the rate of H2O2 being reacted?

A. 8.75×10 4 M s 1
− −
C. 8.75×10 3 M s 1
− −

B. 2.19×10 3 M s 1
− −
D. 2.19×10 2 M s 1
− −

d[ A]!
2. For the reaction: A + 2B ⎯→ C + 2D, the initial rate, − is 2.6×10 2 M s 1. What is the value of
− −

dt
d[ B ]!
− ?
dt
A. 6.5×10 3 M s 1
− −
C. 2.6×10 2 M s 1
− −

B. 1.3×10 2 M s 1
− −
D. 5.2×10 2 M s 1
− −

3. If a reaction is described as zero order with respect to reactant A, this means that
A. A is a catalyst in the reaction.
B. A is not involved in the rate determining step.
C. the value of the rate constant is independent of A.
D. the rate of reaction is inversely proportional to the concentration of A

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4. The following data were measured for the reaction:

2NO(g) + Cl2(g) ⎯→ 2NOCl(g)

Reaction rate Concentration (mol dm 3) −

(mol dm 3 hr 1) NO
− −
Cl2
1.19 0.50 0.50
4.79 1.00 0.50
9.59 1.00 1.00
Choose the rate equation for the reaction.
A. rate = k[NOCl]2 C. rate = k[NO]2[Cl2]
B. rate = k[NO][Cl2] D. rate = k[NO][Cl2]0.5

5. The initial concentration of an active substance in an aqueous solution of medicine is 5.0×10 3 mol
−

dm 3. After 20 months, an analysis shows that its concentration becomes 4.2×10 3 mol dm 3.
− − −

Determine the decay duration of this medicine by assuming the decomposition of the active
substance is a first order reaction.
[Decay duration of the medicine is the time required as it decomposes 10% of the initial
concentration].
A. 9 months C. 18 months
B. 12 months D. 23 months

6. The reaction A + 2B ⎯→ products was found to have the rate law, rate = k[A] [B]2. Predict by what
factor the rate of reaction will increase when the concentration of B is doubled and the concentration
of A remained unchanged.
A. 2 C. 6
B. 4 D. 8

7. Half-life of a reaction increases with initial concentration if the reaction is

A. zero order C. second order
B. first order D. none of the above

8. The half-life of a radioactive element is 50 minutes. How long will it take for the element to decay by
87.5%?
A. 1.67 hours C. 2.25 hours
B. 2.00 hours D. 2.50 hours

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9. The rate equation for a reaction is

Rate = k[A]2[B]0
Choose the correct statement(s):
I. The reaction is a second order.
II. The unit of the rate constant, k is mol-1 dm3 s-1.
III. If the concentration of A is doubled, the rate of the reaction will increase four fold.

10. The reaction : Q ⎯→ products is believed to be of first order.

Which of the following graph(s) is/are correct?
I.
ln[Q]

t
II
[Q]

t
III
Rate

[Q]

11. Consider the firs order reaction :

X→Y
Which of the following is/are true?
I. The rate of reaction is directly propotional to X.
II. A plot of ln [X] against time gives a straight line.
III. The rate constant changes propotionally according to the concentration of X.

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