Question

The activation energy for the reaction NO2(g)+CO(g)⟶NO(g)+CO2(g) is Ea = 375 kJ/mol and the change in enthalpy for the reaction is ΔH = -250 kJ/mol . What is the activation energy for the reverse reaction?

Answer 1

Answer: 625 kj/mol

Explanation:

As shown below this expression gives the activation energy of the reverse reaction:

EA reverse reaction = EA forward reaction + | enthalpy change |

1) The activation energy, EA is the difference between the potential energies of the reactants and the transition state:

EA = energy of the transition state - energy of the reactants.

2) The activation energy of the forward reaction given is:

EA = energy of the transition state - energy of  [ NO2(g) + CO(g) ] = 75 kj/mol

3) The negative enthalpy change - 250 kj / mol for the forward reaction means that the products are below in the potential energy diagram, and that the potential energy of the products, [NO(g) + CO2(g) ] is equal to 375 kj / mol - 250 kj / mol = 125 kj/mol

4) For the reverse reaction the reactants are [NO(g) + CO2(g)], and the transition state is the same than that for the forward reaction.

5) The difference of energy between the transition state and the potential energy of [NO(g) + CO2(g) ] will be the absolute value of the change of enthalpy plus the activation energy for the forward reaction:

EA reverse reaction = EA forward reaction + | enthalpy change |

EA reverse reaction = 375 kj / mol + |-250 kj/mol | = 375 kj/mol + 250 kj/mol = 625 kj/mol.

And that is the answer, 625 kj/mol