Chemical Kinetics: The Method of Initial Rates Lab Report

This assignment requires you to read and understand the instructions for the SMC
Chemistry 12 Experiment Chemical Kinetics: The Method of Initial Rates. These
instructions will be distributed to you by your instructor. A sample Report Sheet will
also be provided to help you perform the calculations and organize your responses for
this online report. The sample Report Sheet is not graded and you do not need to turn
it in. A one-page PDF submission of your activation energy plot is required along
with this report.
Part A - Finding the Rate Law Using the Method of Initial Rates:

Data for Mixtures 1 through 4 (leave the initial and final temp's blank and calculate
the averages yourself):

Mixture Trial Time / s

1 1 281

2 281

2 1 281

2 283

3 1 35

2 37

4 1 282

2 280

Based on the stoichiometry of Equations (1) and (4), what are the values of a and b in
the relative rate expression:

     −1𝑎[ΔBrO−3]Δ𝑡=−1𝑏[ΔS2O2−3]Δ𝑡−1a[ΔBrO3−]Δt=−1b[ΔS2O32−]Δt
a=1
b =6
Complete the tables on pages 9-11 of the sample Report Sheet. Use the average of
times for the two trials given for each mixture and the reaction stoichiometry above
when determining the relative reaction rates for your four mixtures. Then use the
values from your Summary Table on page 11 to answer the following (be sure to
enter your calculated concentration values to the correct number of significant
figures based on the data provided in the instructions or they will be marked as
incorrect):
[I-]  for Reaction Mixture 1 =
0

M
[BrO3-]  for Reaction Mixture 1 =
0

M
[H+]  for Reaction Mixture 1 =
0

M
Rate for Reaction Mixture 1 =
M·s-1
[I-]  for Reaction Mixture 2 =
0

M
[BrO3-]  for Reaction Mixture 2 =
0

TOOLS
x10y
M
[H+]  for Reaction Mixture 2 =
0

M
Rate of Reaction for Mixture 2 =
M·s-1
[I-]  for Reaction Mixture 3 =
0

M
[BrO3-]  for Reaction Mixture 3 =
0

M
[H+]  for Reaction Mixture 3 =
0

M
Rate of Reaction for Mixture 3 =
M·s-1
[I-]  for Reaction Mixture 4 =
0

M
[BrO3-]  for Reaction Mixture 4 =
0

M
[H+]  for Reaction Mixture 4 =
0

M
Rate of Reaction for Mixture 4 =
M·s-1
Use the method of initial rates and the relevant data above to determine the order each
reactant as given by Equation (2). Your answers should be expressed as simple whole
numbers, for example: -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
The reaction order with respect to I- =
The reaction order with respect to BrO 3- =
The reaction order with respect to H+ =
Using your experimentally determined rate law, determine the value of the rate
constant, k, for each of the four trials, the average value of k, and the units of k. Enter
these below:
Value of k for Mixture 1 =
Value of k for Mixture 2 =
Value of k for Mixture 3 =
Value of k for Mixture 4 =
Average value of k =
The units of the rate constant, k, are:
1 –1
M ·s
−4 –1
M ·s
−1 –1
M ·s
0 –1
M ·s
−2 –1
M ·s
−3 –1
M ·s
Part B - The Effect of Temperature on the Reaction Rate
Data:

Ice Water Room Temp About 30ºC

Temp of Mixture in ºC: 0.6 22.6 29.2

Elapsed Time in seconds: 708 281 218

Complete the Summary of Results for Use in Determining the Activation Energy of

the Reaction Table at the bottom of Page 12 and enter the values of the natural
logarithm of the rate constants, ln k, you determined for each of the four temperatures
below:
ln k for ice water trial =
ln k for room temp trial =
ln k for about 30ºC trial =
ln k for about 40ºC trial =
Make a Graph and Submit Separately as a PDF file: Using Microsoft Excel (or
similar) create a graph of "ln k versus 1/T ". Your graph should have an appropriate
title and labeled axes with an appropriate scale so that the data points fill most of the
available space and are not just a small section of your plot. Add a best-fit line
(trendline) to your plotted data and display the equation of this line on your graph
using an appropriate number of significant figures. You should save this graph as
a PDF file on a single letter-sized page (other formats will be returned ungraded).
Most spreadsheets have the option to "Save as PDF" (sometimes this is found in the
Print Menu). Otherwise, you can take a screenshot of your plot and convert it from a
JPEG file to a PDF file using a free site such as jpg2pdf.com online. Your instructor
will provide you with specific instructions as to how to submit this PDF file for credit.
From your graph, determine the value of the activation energy, Ea, and the frequency
factor (or Arrhenius factor), A, for this reaction and enter them below:
Activation Energy, Ea =
kJ·mol-1
A factor =
M−2·s–1
Part C - The Effect of a Catalyst Upon a Reaction Rate
The data below is used for answering the questions at the end of the report.

Reaction Time of Normal and Catalyzed Mixture for Mixture 1:

Reaction Mixture 1 Elapsed Time / s Temperature / ºC N

without catalyst: 281 22.6

with catalyst: <1 sec 22.6 turned da