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Chemical Kinetics - Rate of a Chemical Reaction

Grade 12CBSEChemistry

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

The rate of a chemical reaction is defined as the change in the molar concentration of any one of the reactants or products per unit time.

The units for the rate of reaction are typically molL1s1mol \cdot L^{-1} \cdot s^{-1} or moldm3s1mol \cdot dm^{-3} \cdot s^{-1}. For gaseous reactions, it can be expressed as atms1atm \cdot s^{-1}.

Average rate (ravr_{av}) is the rate measured over a specific time interval Δt\Delta t, expressed as rav=Δ[R]Δt=Δ[P]Δtr_{av} = -\frac{\Delta[R]}{\Delta t} = \frac{\Delta[P]}{\Delta t}.

Instantaneous rate (rinstr_{inst}) is the rate of reaction at a particular moment in time, calculated as the slope of the tangent to the concentration-time curve: rinst=d[R]dt=d[P]dtr_{inst} = -\frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{d[P]}{dt}.

For a general reaction aA+bBcC+dDaA + bB \rightarrow cC + dD, the rates of disappearance of reactants and appearance of products are related by their stoichiometric coefficients: Rate=1ad[A]dt=1bd[B]dt=1cd[C]dt=1dd[D]dt\text{Rate} = -\frac{1}{a}\frac{d[A]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{b}\frac{d[B]}{dt} = \frac{1}{c}\frac{d[C]}{dt} = \frac{1}{d}\frac{d[D]}{dt}.

The rate of a reaction is influenced by factors such as the concentration of reactants, temperature, presence of a catalyst, and the surface area of solid reactants.

📐Formulae

rav=Decrease in concentration of ReactantTime taken=Δ[R]Δtr_{av} = \frac{\text{Decrease in concentration of Reactant}}{\text{Time taken}} = -\frac{\Delta [R]}{\Delta t}

rav=Increase in concentration of ProductTime taken=Δ[P]Δtr_{av} = \frac{\text{Increase in concentration of Product}}{\text{Time taken}} = \frac{\Delta [P]}{\Delta t}

rinst=d[R]dt=d[P]dtr_{inst} = -\frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{d[P]}{dt}

Rate=1ad[A]dt=1bd[B]dt=1cd[C]dt=1dd[D]dt\text{Rate} = -\frac{1}{a}\frac{d[A]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{b}\frac{d[B]}{dt} = \frac{1}{c}\frac{d[C]}{dt} = \frac{1}{d}\frac{d[D]}{dt}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

For the reaction RPR \rightarrow P, the concentration of a reactant changes from 0.03M0.03 M to 0.02M0.02 M in 2525 minutes. Calculate the average rate of reaction using units of time both in minutes and seconds.

Solution:

Δ[R]=[R]2[R]1=0.02M0.03M=0.01M\Delta [R] = [R]_2 - [R]_1 = 0.02 M - 0.03 M = -0.01 M. Δt=25min\Delta t = 25 min. rav=Δ[R]Δt=0.01M25min=4×104Mmin1r_{av} = -\frac{\Delta[R]}{\Delta t} = -\frac{-0.01 M}{25 min} = 4 \times 10^{-4} M \cdot min^{-1}. In seconds: rav=4×104M60s=6.66×106Ms1r_{av} = \frac{4 \times 10^{-4} M}{60 s} = 6.66 \times 10^{-6} M \cdot s^{-1}.

Explanation:

The average rate is the negative change in reactant concentration divided by the time interval. To convert to seconds, the rate in min1min^{-1} is divided by 6060.

Problem 2:

In the reaction 2N2O5(g)4NO2(g)+O2(g)2N_2O_5(g) \rightarrow 4NO_2(g) + O_2(g), the rate of formation of NO2NO_2 is 0.0072molL1s10.0072 mol \cdot L^{-1} \cdot s^{-1}. Calculate the rate of disappearance of N2O5N_2O_5.

Solution:

From the stoichiometry: Rate=12d[N2O5]dt=14d[NO2]dt\text{Rate} = -\frac{1}{2}\frac{d[N_2O_5]}{dt} = \frac{1}{4}\frac{d[NO_2]}{dt}. Given d[NO2]dt=0.0072molL1s1\frac{d[NO_2]}{dt} = 0.0072 mol \cdot L^{-1} \cdot s^{-1}. Therefore, d[N2O5]dt=24×0.0072=0.0036molL1s1-\frac{d[N_2O_5]}{dt} = \frac{2}{4} \times 0.0072 = 0.0036 mol \cdot L^{-1} \cdot s^{-1}.

Explanation:

The rate of disappearance of N2O5N_2O_5 is related to the rate of appearance of NO2NO_2 by the ratio of their stoichiometric coefficients (24)(\frac{2}{4}).

Rate of a Chemical Reaction - Revision Notes & Key Formulas | CBSE Class 12 Chemistry