GROUP WORKSHEET

Chemical Kinetics
October 11, 2021

1. At a certain temperature, the half-life periods and initial concentrations for a reaction are
t1/2 = 420 s; [A] = 0.405 M and t1/2 = 275 s; [A] = 0.640 M
Calculate the order of the reaction and the rate constant.

2. The water flea Daphnia performs a constant number of heartbeats and then dies. The flea
lives twice as long at 15oC as at 25oC. Calculate the activation energy for the reaction that
controls the rate of its heartbeat.

3. For the reaction mechanism below, assume that the intermediate is in a steady state and
A. derive the general rate equation.
k1

Co(CN)5(OH)22- ⇌
k -1
Co(CN)52- + H2O

k2
Co(CN)52- + I- → Co(CN)5I3-

Write the rate equation for the following special cases and decide what is the rate limiting
step:
B. at low iodide concentration
C. at high iodide concentration