TOPIC 11: KINETICS

1 The order of reaction with respect to a reactant can be determined from certain graphs.
In each of the following cases, state the graph that must be plotted to give a straight line from
which the order of reaction can be determined.

(a) Zero order with respect to Reactant A (2)

Graph:

Line:

(b) First order with respect to Reactant A (2)

Graph:

Line:

(c) Second order with respect to Reactant A (2)

Graph:

Line:

(Total for Question 1 = 6 marks)

2 Most chemical reactions involve two or more steps. The experimentally determined rate equation
often indicates which molecules are involved in the rate-determining step of the mechanism for
the reaction.

(a) State what is meant by the term rate-determining step. (1)

(b) Hydrogen reacts with iodine monochloride as shown by the equation:

H2(g) +¿ 2ICl(g)  2HCl(g) +¿ I2(g)

The rate equation for this reaction is:

Rate ¿ k [H2(g)] [ICl(g)], where k is the rate constant

(i) Suggest an equation for the rate-determining step in this reaction. (2)

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 (ii) Suggest an equation for a second step in this reaction. (2)

(Total for Question 2 = 5 marks)

3 The reaction A +¿ B +¿ C  products is investigated by a series of experiments. The table

shows the results obtained.

Initial concentrations / mol dm‒3 Initial rate /

mol dm‒3 s‒1
[A] [B] [C]
0.1 0.1 0.1 6.20 × 10‒4
0.1 0.2 0.1 6.20 × 10‒4
0.1 0.1 0.2 2.48 × 10‒3
0.2 0.1 0.1 1.24 × 10‒3

(a) Deduce the order of reaction with respect to each reactant. (3)

Order with respect to A:

Order with respect to B:

Order with respect to C:

(b) Write the rate equation for this reaction. (1)

(c) State which reactant is unlikely to be involved in the rate-determining step. (1)

(Total for Question 3 = 5 marks)

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document may have been altered from the original.
4 The rate constant for the reaction between bromoethane and hydroxide ions is determined at
five different temperatures. The table shows the results.

Temperature (T) 1/Temperature (1/T)

Rate constant (k) ln k
/K / K‒1
293 3.41 × 10‒3 5.83 × 10‒5 ‒ 9.75
303 3.30 × 10‒3 1.67 × 10‒4 ‒ 8.70
313 3.19 × 10‒3 5.26 × 10‒4 ‒ 7.55
323 3.10 × 10‒3 1.36 × 10‒3 ‒ 6.60
333 3.77 × 10‒3

(a) Complete the table by inserting the missing values. (2)

E
¿  RTa +¿  
 
(b) Given the equation: ln k ln A
explain how, using a graphical method, you could determine the activation energy for this
reaction. (2)

(Total for Question 4 = 4 marks)

TOTAL FOR ASSESSMENT = 20 MARKS

© Pearson Education Ltd 2019. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. This
document may have been altered from the original.