Part 2

CHEMICAL KINETICS

HANAN HUSSEIN 1
 Chapter 2

RATE OF REACTIONS

HANAN HUSSEIN 2
 1- Introduction :
• The study of reaction rates is
important because it helps us to
choose the most efficient and the
most economical conditions for an
industrial operation.

HANAN HUSSEIN 3
• A chemical reaction is a transformation in
which reactants disappear and products are
formed.
• Chemical reactions can be slow or fast.
• Chemical kinetics is the study of the
progress of a chemical reaction with time.
• Only slow reactions are easily studied in
kinetics.

HANAN HUSSEIN 4
2- Rate of formation and rate of
disappearance of a substance :

A- Rate of formation of a product :

HANAN HUSSEIN 8
a- Average rate of formation of a product P :
➢Definition :
The average rate of formation of a product P
within the interval of time ∆t = t2 – t1 is equal to
the slope of the secant on the curve
[P] = f(t) at the points of abscissa t1 and t2.

[P]2 – [P]1 ∆ [P]

r (P) = =
t2 – t1 ∆t

HANAN HUSSEIN 9
HANAN HUSSEIN 10
b- Instantaneous rate of formation of a product P :

➢ Definition :
The instantaneous rate of formation of a
product P at time t is equal to the value of the
derivative of the function [P] = f(t) at time t.
d[P]
r (P)t =
dt t
Graphically it is equal to the value of the slope
of the tangent to the curve [P] = f(t) at the point
of abscissa t. HANAN HUSSEIN 11
HANAN HUSSEIN 12
c- Initial rate of formation of a product P :
➢ Definition :
The initial rate of formation of a product P is
equal to the value of the derivative of the
function [P] = f(t) at time t=0.
d[P]
r (P)t=0 =
dt t=0
Graphically it is equal to the slope of the
tangent to the curve [P] = f(t) at the point of
abscissa t=0. HANAN HUSSEIN 13
HANAN HUSSEIN 14
 B- Rate of disappearance of a reactant :
a- Average rate of disappearance of a reactant R :
➢ Definition :
The average rate of disappearance of a reactant
R within the interval of time ∆t = t2 – t1 is equal
to the negative slope of the secant on the curve
[R] = f(t) at the points of abscissa t1 and t2.
[R]2 – [R]1 ∆[R]
r (R) = - =-
t2 – t1 ∆t
HANAN HUSSEIN 15
HANAN HUSSEIN 16
b- Instantaneous rate of disappearance of a reactant R :

➢ Definition :
The instantaneous rate of disappearance of a
reactant R at time t is equal to the negative
derivative of the function [R] = f(t) at time t.
d[R]
r (R)t = -
dt t

Graphically it is equal to the negative slope of

the tangent to the curve [R] = f(t) at the point of
abscissa t. HANAN HUSSEIN 17
HANAN HUSSEIN 18
c- Initial rate of disappearance of a reactant R :
➢ Definition :
The initial rate of disappearance of a reactant R
is equal to the negative derivative of the
function [R] = f(t) at time t=0.
d[R]
r (R)t=0 = -
dt t=0
Graphically it is equal to the negative slope of
the tangent to the curve [R] = f(t) at the point of
abscissa t=0. HANAN HUSSEIN 19
HANAN HUSSEIN 20
C- Rate of a reaction and stoichiometry:

For an equation of general form :

aA + bB → cC + dD

the rate of the reaction can be determined using

the stoichiometric ratios :

r(reaction) =

HANAN HUSSEIN 21
Example :
For the equation : 2 N2O5 → 4 NO2 + O2

During the reaction at a time t, the rate of

formation of NO2 is 0.8 mmol.L-1.min-1.
Determine the rate of disappearance of N2O5
at the same time t, and the rate of the
reaction.

HANAN HUSSEIN 22
 3- kinetic study :

We learned how to determine the rate of a

reaction graphically using the slopes of tangents
and secants on the kinetic curve.
But how did we draw this kinetic curve in the
first place ??
Time to talk about the lab work that leads to the
curve !!

HANAN HUSSEIN 23
Activity :
Reduction of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 with
iodide ions I- in acidic medium :

Equation of the reaction :

H2O2 + 2 I- + 2 H+ → I2 + 2 H2O
colorless colorless colorless Brown colorless
orange

HANAN HUSSEIN 24
HANAN HUSSEIN 29
 4- The half-life time of a reaction :
The half-life time t½ of a reaction is defined
depending on the studied curve, and is
determined graphically.

HANAN HUSSEIN 30
➢ In case of a descending curve :
Definition : The half-life time t½ of the reaction is
the time required for the concentration of the
limiting reactant to decrease to one-half of its
initial value.
[R]0
At t½ : [R]t½ =
2

HANAN HUSSEIN 31
Example :

HANAN HUSSEIN 32
➢ In case of an ascending curve :
Definition : The half-life time t½ of the reaction is
the time required for the concentration of the
product to reach one-half of its final value.

[P]∞
At t½ : [P]t½ =
2

HANAN HUSSEIN 33
Example :

HANAN HUSSEIN 34