Assignment 3 (NCHE312)

The total pressure of the following system is used to monitor the progress of the chemical reaction.

SO2Cl2(g) → SO2(g) + Cl2(g)

The reaction is initiated, and the following data are obtained:

Time (h) 0 3 6 9 12 15

PTotal (kPa) 11.07 14.79 17.26 18.90 19.99 20.71

𝑃𝑃𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆2 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2

𝑃𝑃𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆2

𝑃𝑃𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2

Additional information:

As the reaction proceeds, stoichiometry dictates that for every mole of SO2Cl2 that dissociates one
mole of each of SO2 and Cl2 is produced. Defining the extent of dissociation/reaction as ξ, and the
initial pressure as P0, the total pressure is given by:

𝑃𝑃𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 𝑃𝑃𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆2 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 + 𝑃𝑃𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆2 + 𝑃𝑃𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 = (𝑃𝑃0 − ξ) + ξ + ξ

a) Calculate the pressure of each component at each time interval, i.e. complete the above table.

b) Use a graphical method and determine what the order of the reaction is with respect to SO2Cl2?
(i) Show the plot as well as the linear fit of the data. (ii) Motivate your answer.

c) Determine the rate constant for this reaction.

d) Give the rate equation describing the reaction.

e) What is the half-life of this reaction? Show your calculation.

f) How long will the reaction take to come to an end? Show your calculation/derivation of the rate
equation in (d).

Convert your work into a single PDF file and upload it into your eFundi Dropbox

folder. Deadline for submission: 26/05/2023 at 12pm