With billions of moving particles colliding into each other, an area of high energy will slowly transfer across the material until thermal equilibrium is reached (the temperature is the same across the material).

8 0

3 years ago

The following mechanism has been suggested for the reaction between nitrogen monoxide and oxygen: NO(g) + NO(g) → N2O2(g) (fast)

Karo-lina-s [1.5K]

Answer:

b. Second order in NO and first order in O₂.

Explanation:

A. The mechanism

$\rm 2NO\xrightarrow[k_{-1}]{k_{1}}N_{2}O_{2} \, (fast)\\\rm N_{2}O_{2} + O_{2}\xrightarrow{k_{2}} 2NO_{2} \, (slow)$

B. The rate expressions

$-\dfrac{\text{d[NO]} }{\text{d}t} = k_{1}[\text{NO]}^{2} - k_{-1} [\text{N}_{2}\text{O}_{2}]^{2}\\\\\rm -\dfrac{\text{d[N$_{2}$O$_{2}$]}}{\text{d}t} = -\dfrac{\text{d[O$_{2}$]}}{\text{d}t} = k_{2}[ N_{2}O_{2}][O_{2}] - k_{1} [NO]^{2}\\\\\dfrac{\text{d[NO$_{2}$]}}{\text{d}t}= k_{2}[ N_{2}O_{2}][O_{2}]$

The last expression is the rate law for the slow step. However, it contains the intermediate N₂O₂, so it can't be the final answer.

C. Assume the first step is an equilibrium

If the first step is an equilibrium, the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal. The equilibrium is only slightly perturbed by the slow leaking away of N₂O₂ to form product.

$\rm k_{1}[NO]^{2} = k_{-1} [N_{2}O_{2}]\\\\\rm [N_{2}O_{2}] = \dfrac{k_{1}}{k_{-1}}[NO]^{2}$

D. Substitute this concentration into the rate law

$\rm \dfrac{\text{d[NO$_{2}$]}}{\text{d}t}= \dfrac{k_{2}k_{1}}{k_{-1}}[NO]^{2} [O_{2}] = k[NO]^{2} [O_{2}]$

The reaction is second order in NO and first order in O₂.

8 0

3 years ago