Chemical Kinetics Kinetics: The Study of the rate of chemical reactions Thermodynamics: The study of the energy associated with chemical reactions Remember: Thermodynamics is concerned with state functions (where we started and where we finished) but Kinetics is concerned with how we get to where we finish.

The Rate of a Chemical Reaction What is a rate? A rate is a change in a property per unit time. For example, how do we define the speed of a ski boat? There are 2 types of speed: 1.Average speed: The total distance traveled divided by the total time 2.Instantaneous speed: Looking at the speedometer on the boat tells you the rate you are traveling RIGHT THEN

The Reaction Rate The reaction rate is the change in the rate of formation of products OR consumption of reactants per unit time 

Reaction Rate and Stoichiometry In the example: 2NH 3 (g) --> N 2 (g) + 3H 2 (g) The rate of formation of N 2 is one half the rate of disappearance of NH 3. Prove this. Use the previous answer (0.017mM NH 3 per sec) You can use use stoichiometries to convert rates

Unique Average Rate Because it can be confusing to express rates of different products or reactants, we use the Unique Average Rate in many instances aA + bB --> cC + dD The Unique Average Rate =

Instantaneous Rate of Reaction When you measure the rate of a reaction, the rate is constantly changing as the composition of the reaction mixture changes You want to choose 2 points that are close together so that you have a straight line

The instantaneous reaction rate is the slope of a tangent line drawn to the graph of concentration versus time For most reactions, the rate decreases as the reaction proceeds (when we are plotting the concentration of reactants)

Rate Laws and Reaction Order Let’s look at an experiment on the decomposition of dinitrogen pentoxide N 2 O 5 --> 4NO 2 + O 2 5 different initial concentrations of N 2 O 5, and 5 different rates

Rate Laws We could describe the rate of dinitrogen pentoxide decomposition as: Rate = k [N 2 O 5 ] We can see this experimentally. –As the [N 2 O 5 ] increases, the rate increases k is the rate constant for the reaction and if we plotted rate versus [N 2 O 5 ], it is equal to the slope.

Rate Laws Rate of N 2 O 5 decomposition = k [N 2 O 5 ] This is a rate law An expression for the instantaneous reaction rate as a function of concentration Every chemical reaction has its own rate law and unique rate constant, k The rate constant is independent of reactant concentration but dependent on temperature

Order of Reaction If we look at another reaction, we’ll find that there may be a different dependence on reactant concentration: 2NO 2 (g) --> 2NO (g) + O 2 (g) Rate vs. [NO 2 ] Note shape of plot! Rate vs. [NO 2 ] 2 Note shape of plot!

Order of Reaction 2NO 2 (g) --> 2NO (g) + O 2 (g) This observation of concentration dependence on rate is telling us something that the balanced chemical equation was and we may have missed… O=N=O+O=N=O O=N+O=N+O=O In order for the reaction to proceed, we need 2 molecules of O=N=O The rate law is: Rate of Consumption of NO 2 = k [NO 2 ] 2 The reaction is a second order reaction

Rate Laws and Reaction Order Rate = Rate constant [concentration of reactant A] a Or Rate = Rate constant [concentration of reactant B] b aA + bB --> cC + dD Examples: Rate = k [N 2 O 5 ] (First Order) Rate = k [NO 2 ] 2 (Second Order) Doubling the [reactant] of a first order reaction doubles the reaction rate Doubling the [reactant] of a second order reaction quadruples the reaction rate

Zero Order Reactions Some reactions just happen and continue at a constant rate until the reactant is completely consumed 2NH 3 --> N 2 + 3H 2 The decomposition of ammonia is an example of a zero order reaction Experimental data tells us the order of the reaction

Rate Laws and Order The rate law for a reaction is experimentally determined and cannot be known simply by looking at the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.

Overall Reaction Order We have discussed reaction order with respect to a single reactant, but we must also be able to describe the rate law for reactions that depend on more than one reactant Anabolic reactions or synthetic reactions To describe a reaction like this, we have to include the concentration of both reactants in the rate law

Example: Overall Reaction Order Let’s look at the reaction between: Ca(OH) 2 (aq) + 2HCl (aq)  CaCl 2 (s) + 2H 2 O (l) Because we are making solid CaCl 2, the rate depends on the concentration of Ca 2+ and Cl -. Rate of Consumption of Ca(OH) 2 = k[Ca(OH) 2 ][HCl] 2 And the overall reaction order is the sum of the exponents = 1+2 = 3.

Odd Rate Laws Experiments have provided data for reactions that have non- standard reaction orders. These non-standard orders tell us specific things about the reaction 1)2O 3 (g) --> 3O 2 (g) The presence of O 2 slows the reaction down significantly 2)3SO 2 (g) + O 2 (g) --> 3SO 3 (g) 

Integrated Rate Laws A rate law by itself is interesting (I guess), but not terribly informative To make the laws useful, we need them to tell us the concentration of reactants or products at any time after the reaction begins An Integrated Rate Law does this

Integrated Rate Law for a Zero Order Reaction We want to find the difference in the concentration of reactant A from its initial value, [A] 0 We know that this difference will be proportional to the time elapsed since the reaction started. –Why? –The rate constant is the proportionality constant [A] 0 - [A] t = ktor[A] t = [A] 0 - kt

Integrated Rate Laws for First Order Reactions Exponential decay plot The rate decreases as more and more reactant is used up 

Confirming that a Reaction is First Order In order to confirm that a reaction is truly first order, we need to plot ln[A] t as a function of t (does everyone understand what I mean by that?) We should see a straight line!

Half Lives of First Order Reactions The half life, t 1/2, of a substance is the time needed for its concentration to decrease by one half. We use half lives in: –Environmental Chemistry –Nuclear Science –Biochemistry –Pharmacology

Half Lives of First Order Reactions The higher the value of k, the higher the rate. –The amount of time necessary to decrease the reactant concentration by 1/2 is inversely proportional to k 

The half life for first order reactions is constant

Second Order Integrated Rate Laws When we know [A] t and [A] 0 When we know [A] 0 and want [A] t Remember: The rate law for a second order reaction is Rate of consumption of A = k[A] 2 The Integrated Rate Law is: 