GENERAL CHEMISTRY WORKSHOP

CHEMICAL KINETICS
1. For the first order reaction A products, [A] = 0.816 M initially and 0.632 M
after 16.0 min. a) What is the value of the rate constant, k? b) What is the half-life of
this reaction? c) At what time will [A] = 0.235 M? d) What will be [A] after 2.5 h?
2. At 65 C, the half-life for the first-order decomposition of N2O5(g) is 2.38 min.
N2O5(g)

2 NO2(g)

O2(g)

If 1.00 g of N2O5 is introduced into an evacuated 15 L flask at 65 C, a) What is the

initial partial pressure, in mm Hg, of N2O5(g)? b) What is the partial pressure, in mm
Hg, of N2O5(g) after 2.38 min? c) What is the total gas pressure, in mm Hg, of N2O5(g)
after 2.38 min?
3. The following data are obtained for the initial rates of reaction in the reaction
A
Experiment

1
2
3
4
5

2B

2D

[A]/M

[B]/M

[C]/M

Initial Rate

1.40
0.70
0.70
1.40
0.70

1.40
1.40
0.70
1.40
0.70

1.00
1.00
1.00
0.50
0.50

R1
R2 = R1
R3 = R2
R4 = 16 R3
R5 = ?

a) What are the reaction orders with respect to A, B, and C? b) What is the value of
R5 in terms of R1?
4. Consider three hypothetical reactions, A products, all having the same
numerical value of the rate constant k. One of the reactions is zero order, one is first
order, and one is second order. What must be the initial concentration [A]0 if a) the
zero and first-order; b) the zero and second-order; c) the first and second-order
reactions are to have the same half-life.
5. The decomposition of dimethyl ether (DME) at 504 C is
(CH3)2O(g) CH4(g) + H2(g) + CO(g)
The following data are partial pressures of DME as a function of time:
t=0s
PDME = 312 torr

t = 390 s
PDME = 264 torr

t = 777 s
PDME = 224 torr

t = 1195 s
PDME = 187 torr

t = 3155 s
PDME =78.5 torr

a) Show that the reaction is first order. b) What is the value of the rate constant, k?
c) What is the total gas pressure at 390 s? d) What is the total gas pressure when the
reaction has gone to completion? e) What is the total gas pressure at t = 1000. s?
6. By inspection of the reaction profile for the reaction A to D given below, answer the
following questions: a) How many intermediates are there in the reaction? b) How
many transition states are there? c) Which is the fastest step in the reaction? d) Is the
first step of the reaction exothermic or endothermic? e) Is the overall reaction
exothermic or endothermic?

7. For the reaction A products, the following data were obtained: t = 0 s, [A] =
0.715 M; t = 22 s, [A] = 0.605 M; t = 74 s, [A] = 0.345 M; t = 132 s, [A] = 0.055 M.
a) What is the half-life of the reaction? b) What is the order of this reaction?
8. At room temperature (20 C), milk turns sour in about 64 hours. In a refrigerator at
3 C, milk can be stored three times as long before it sours. a) Estimate the activation
energy of the reaction that causes the souring of milk. b) How long should it take milk
to sour at 40 C?
9. Determine the temperature at which t1/2 = 2.00 h for the first order decomposition of
N2O5 in CCl4 according to the reaction N2O5(in CCl4) N2O4(in CCl4) + O2(g).
At 25 C the rate constant for this reaction is 3.46 x 10-5 s-1. (EA= 106 kJ/mol)
10. A simplified rate law for the reaction 2 O3(g) 3 O2(g) is: rate = k[O3]2/[O2]
For this reaction, propose a two-step mechanism that consists of a fast, reversible step,
followed by a slow second step.