1. Kinetics: Problems

2. Finding Reaction Orders by Experiment - I
Given the reaction: O2 (g) + 2 NO(g) NO2 (g)
The rate law for this reaction in general terms is:
Rate = k [O2]m[NO]n
To find the reaction orders, we run a series of experiments, each with a
different set of reactant concentrations, and determine the initial
reaction rates.
Experiment Initial Reactant Concentrations (mol/l) Initial Rate
O NO (mol/L·s)
x x x 10-3
x x x 10-3
x x x 10-3
x x x 10-3
x x x 10-3
By using the data from experiments 1&2 we can calculate the values of
the coefficients m & n for the rate equation:

3. Determining Reaction Orders by Experiment - II
The oxygen concentration changes
for these two experiments but NO
is the same and the constant k is the
same, they will cancel out. m
Rate [O2]2m [O2]2
= =
Rate [O2]1m [O2]1
Using the concentrations from the preceding table and the rate: m
6.40 x 10-3 mol/L s x 10-2 mol/L =
3.21 x 10-3 mol/L s x 10-2 mol/L
m = 1
1.99 = (2.00)m
The reaction is first order in O2, when O2 doubles, the rate doubles.
To find the order of NO we will compare experiments 3 & 1 in which
oxygen is constant, but NO doubles, and the rate between the two
experiments goes up substantially.

4. Determining Reaction Orders by Experiment - III
As before, k and for this one, the
concentration of oxygen is not varying,
and will cancel out, leaving only the
rate and the concentration of No to consider.
Rate k[O2]3m[NO]3n
Rate k[O2]1m[NO]1n =
Rate [NO]3
Rate [NO]1 =
Substituting in the values from the table,
we get the following:
12.8 x 10-3 mol/L s x 10-2 mol/L =
3.21 x 10-3 mol/L s x 10-2 mol/L
n = 2
3.99 = (2.00)n
The reaction is second order in NO: when [NO] doubles, the rate
quadruples, Thus the rate law is:
Rate = k [O2][NO]2

5. Determining the Reactant Concentration at a Given Time! - I
Problem: The conversion of cyclopropane to propene occurs with a first
order rate constant equal to 1.7 x 10-2hr-1. (a) If the initial concentration
of cyclopropane is M, what is the concentration after hrs?
(b) What fraction of cyclopropane has decomposed?
Plan: (a) To find the concentration of cyclopropane at time t, [C3H6]t .
the problem tells us it is a first-order reaction so we use the integrated rate
law:
We know k,t and [C3H6]0 , so we
can solve for [C3H6]t .
(b) The fraction decomposed is the concentration that has decomposed
divided by the initial concentration:
ln [C3H6]0 - ln [C3H6]t = kt
Fraction decomposed =
[C3H6]0 - [C3H6]t
[C3H6]0

6. Determining the Reactant Concentration at a Given Time - II
Solution: (a) Rearranging the integrated rate expression and solving for
ln [C3H6]t :
ln [C3H6]t = ln[C3H6]0 - kt
ln [C3H6]t = ln(1.200 mol/L) -(1.7 x 10-2hr-1)(20.00 hr)
Ln[C3H6]t = =
[C3H6]t = mol/L
(b) Finding the fraction that has decomposed after hrs:
Fraction decomposed =
[C3H6]0 - [C3H6]t
[C3H6]0
(1.200 mol/L) - (1.159 mol/L)
Fraction decomposed = =
(1.200 mol/L)

7. Determining Molecularity and Rate Laws for Elementary Steps
Problem: The following two reactions are for the stepwise neutralization
of sulfuric acid by gaseous ammonia:
Plan: We find the overall equation from the sum of the simple steps. The
molecularity of each step equals the total number of reactant particles.
We write the rate law for each step using the the molecularities as
reactant orders.
Solution: (a) Writing the overall equation:
(1) NH3 (g) + H2SO4 (g) NH4+(g) + HSO4-(g)
(2) NH3 (g) + HSO4-(g) NH4+(g) + SO4-2(g)
(a) Write the overall balanced equation.
(b) Determine the molecularity of each step.
(c) Write the rate law for each step.
NH3 (g) + H2SO4 (g) NH4+(g) + HSO4-(g)
NH3 (g) + HSO4 -(g) NH4+(g) + SO4-2(g)
2 NH3 (g) + H2SO4 (g) NH4+(g) + SO4-2(g)

8. Determining Molecularity and Rate Laws for Elementary Steps
Solution Cont.
(b) Determining the molecularity of each step:
(1) Step #1 has two reactants, ammonia and sulfuric acid, and is
therefore bimolecular
(2) Step#2 has two reactants, ammonia and hydrogen sulfate,
and is therefore bimolecular
(c) Writing the rate laws for the elementary reactions:
(1) Rate1 = k1[NH3][H2SO4]
(2) Rate2 = k2[NH3][HSO4-]
The overall reaction and rate is:
2 NH3 (g) + H2SO4 (g) NH4+(g) + SO4-2
Rate = k[NH3]2[H2SO4]