Chapter 13: Problem 91
The reaction $$\mathrm{H}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{I}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HI}(g)$$ may occur by the following mechanism: $$\begin{aligned}& \mathrm{I}_{2} \frac{k_{1}}{k_{-1}} & 2 \mathrm{I} \\ \mathrm{I}+\mathrm{I}+\mathrm{H}_{2} & \stackrel{k_{2}}{\longrightarrow} & 2 \mathrm{HI} \end{aligned}$$ What rate law is predicted by the mechanism?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Identify the Rate-Determining Step
Write the Rate Law for the Rate-Determining Step
Express Intermediate Concentrations
Substitute Intermediate Concentrations Into the Rate Law
Write the Final Rate Law
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Rate-Determining Step
There are a few reasons why this particular step is slower:
- It involves three molecules colliding at once, which is much rarer than two molecules interacting. This is known as a termolecular reaction.
- The formation of such complex associations takes more time, making the reaction slower.
Rate Law
Key points to remember about rate laws include:
- The exponents reflect the number of molecules involved in the rate-determining step: \([\mathrm{I}]^2\) indicates that two iodine radicals are necessary.
- The concentrations of intermediate species, like \(\mathrm{I}\), affect the reaction rate, but these are often replaced by more stable reactant concentrations using pre-equilibrium steps.
Chemical Kinetics
By studying chemical kinetics, we can:
- Create models that predict reaction speeds under various conditions.
- Identify ways to control and optimize industrial chemical processes.
- Understand how to increase or decrease reaction speeds to align with desired outcomes.
Equilibrium Expression
The equilibrium expression here is given by \( K = \frac{[\mathrm{I}]^2}{[\mathrm{I}_{2}]} \), simplifying the intermediate concentrations:
- This provides a bridge between transient species and more stable, measurable quantities.
- \( K = \frac{k_{1}}{k_{-1}} \) relates the forward and reverse rate constants, embodying the balance at equilibrium.