Chapter 19: Chemical Kinetics

Key topics:
Reaction Rates
Factors That Affect Reaction Rates
Reaction Mechanisms

How fast does a reaction occur?

e.g., many famous painting are changing color…

Red paint from the pond in Van Gogh's Wheat Stack Under a
Cloudy Sky has degraded to grey/white over time.
 Collision Theory of Chemical Reactions

A very simple picture of a chemical reaction between two

molecules is that
1. They must collide with enough energy to react
2. They must collide in the correct orientation to react

The collision (kinetic energy) can be transferred into vibrational

energy, which can lead to bond breaking. This is the first step
in a chemical reaction.

The minimum energy required to initiate a reaction is called

the activation energy, Ea. If the collision is < Ea, it is
ineffective and the reactants simply bounce off each other.
Temperature has a large effect on having energy > Ea.

(from ibchem.com) Also see page 434.

 The correct orientation is also needed for an effective reaction:

Orientation dependence on a simple reaction.

 Transition state theory (TST), also known as Activated
Complex Theory, is a more sophisticated theory that has two
main assumptions
1) The transition state is in equilibrium with the reactions.
2) One (special) vibrational motion results in the breakup of
the transition state into the products.

The transition state (activated complex) is a transient species of high

energy that falls apart to generate the products of the reaction.

Measuring Reaction Progress & Expressing Reaction Rate

We can express the reaction rate as either:

o Rate of disappearance of reactants (decrease or –ve)
o Rate of appearance of products (increase or +ve)
 Reaction progress with time. The rate changes over time.

We can follow a color change, conductance change, pressure

change, or whatever is convenient.
Consider the reaction A → B.
[A] [B]
average rate = =
t t

Reaction progress can be monitored using a spectrometer.

 [Br2 ] [Br2 ]final [Br2 ]initial
average rate = =
t tfinal tinitial
The average rate decreases over time (see Table 19.1).

The instantaneous rate is given by the tangent line:

The instantaneous rate is given by the tangent line.

From Table 19.1:

Time (s) [Br2] Rate (M/s)
50 0.0101 3.52 x 10-5
250 0.00500 1.75 x 10-5
We can see that when [Br2] is halved, the rate is halved.
Therefore rate / [Br2], or rate = k [Br2] where k is the
proportionality constant.
k = rate constant (does depend on the temperature)
Value of k? k = rate / [Br2]
3.52 ⇥ 10 5 M s 1
at t = 50 s, k = = 3.49 ⇥ 10 3 s 1
0.0101 M
1.75 ⇥ 10 5 M s 1
at t = 250 s, k = = 3.50 ⇥ 10 3 s 1
0.00500 M
(same within experimental error)

Consider the reaction A → 2B.

[A] 1 [B]
rate = =
t 2 t
In general for the reaction aA + bB ! cC + dD
1 [A] 1 [B] 1 [C] 1 [D]
rate = = = =
a t b t c t d t
e.g., Write the balanced equation corresponding to the
following rate expression
1 [N2 O5 ] 1 [N2 ] 1 [O2 ]
rate = = =
2 t 2 t 5 t
Solution:
-ve sign indicates reactants and +ve sign indicates products.

So this reaction should be: 2N2 O5 ! 2N2 + 5O2

We should double check that the reaction is balanced.

e.g., Consider the following unbalanced equation: A + B → C.

When C is being formed at the rate of 0.086 M/s, A is being
consumed at a rate of 0.172 M/s, and B at 0.258 M/s. Balance
the equation from this information.
Solution:
[C] [A] [B]
= 0.086 , = 0.172 , = 0.258
We are told that t t t
If we write the balanced equation aA + bB → cC, we know that

1 [A] 1 [B] 1 [C] 0.172 0.258 0.086

= = or = =
a t b t c t a b c

If we divide each expression by 0.086 we get

2 3 1
= =
a b c Therefore a = 2, b = 3, and c = 1.

Dependence of Reaction Rate on Reactant Concentration

In the bromine reaction we considered earlier,

Br2 (aq) + HCOOH(aq) ! 2Br (aq) + 2H+ (aq) + CO2 (g)
we determined the rate = k [Br2].

In terms of the reactant concentrations, we write

rate = k[Br2 ]x + [HCOOH]y
with x = 1 and y = 0. The exponents (x and y) are empirically
determined. Without experimental data we can’t simply predict
their values.

In general, for aA + bB ! cC + dD, the rate law is

rate = k[A]x [B]y.
Ø x = 0: the reaction is 0th order with respect to A.
Ø x = 1: the reaction is 1st order with respect to A.
Ø x = 2: the reaction is 2nd order with respect to A.
The overall reaction order is the sum of the exponents, so the
bromine reaction is 1st order overall (1 + 0 = 1).
To determine the rate law, we often analyze initial rate data
from experiments. (The initial rate is the instantaneous rate at
the beginning of the reaction.)

For the reaction F2(g) + 2ClO2(g) → 2FClO2(g) we have the

following experimental data:

x y
We know the rate law must be rate = k[F 2 ] [ClO 2 ] .
Comparing exp. 1 and 3,
rate3 k[F2 ]x [ClO2 ]y 2.4 ⇥ 10 3 M s 1 k[0.20]x [0.010]y
= = =
rate1 k[F2 ]x [ClO2 ]y 1.2 ⇥ 10 3 M s 1 k[0.10]x [0.010]y
) 2 = 2x ) x = 1

Comparing exp. 1 and 2,

rate2 k[F2 ]x [ClO2 ]y 4.8 ⇥ 10 3 M s 1 k[0.10]x [0.040]y
= = =
rate1 k[F2 ]x [ClO2 ]y 1.2 ⇥ 10 3 M s 1 k[0.10]x [0.010]y
) 4 = 4y ) y = 1

Therefore we have

rate = k[F2 ]1 [ClO2 ]1 (2nd order overall)

Then we can determine k from any single exp.
rate 2.4 ⇥ 10 3 M s 1 1 1
k= = = 1.2 M s
[F2 ][ClO2 ] [0.20 M ][0.010 M ]

The rate has units of M s-1, so k has units as follows:

Note:
Ø rate law defined in terms of reactants only
Ø exponents are usually positive whole numbers or zero
§ can be negative (inhibitor)
§ can be a fraction (won’t see in this course)
e.g., For the reaction A + B → 2C, the rate = k[A]2 with k = 1.3
× 10-2 M-1 s-1. Fill in the missing table entries:
Experiment [A] (M) [B] (M) Initial rate (M/s)
1 0.013 0.250 2.20 × 10-6
2 0.026 0.250
3 0.500 2.20 × 10-6

Solution:
Blue entry: the rate is the same as exp. 1, so [A] must be the
same as exp. 1 since this is what the rate depends on.

Green entry: since [A] doubles from exp. 1, the rate must be 22
= 4 times the rate of exp. 1 = 8.80 × 10-6.

Dependence of Reaction Concentration on Time

How do the reactant (and product) concentrations change with

time? Analyze this in terms of the overall reaction order.

First Order Reactions

A first order reaction depends on the concentration of one of

the reactants raised to the first power. We will write such a
reaction as aA → products.
1 [A] [A]
rate = = k[A] ) = (ak)[A] = k ⇤ [A]
a t t
where we have redefined the rate constant to include the
stoichiometric coefficient. Now we change Δ to d (finite change
to infinitesimal change) and just write k for k*
d[A] d[A] 1
= k[A] ) = k dt or d[A] = k dt
dt [A] [A]
and integrate from t = 0 to t = t
Z [A]t Z t
1
d[A] = k dt
[A]0 [A] 0

which gives the first order integrated rate law

[A]t kt
ln[A]t ln[A]0 = kt or ln = kt or [A]t = [A]0 e
[A]0

e.g., For 2A → B, k = 7.5 × 10-3 s-1.

With [A]0 = 2.25 M, find [A] after 2 minutes.

Solution:
2 minutes = 120 s, so
kt 0.9
[A]t = [A]0 e = (2.25 M )e = 0.91 M
 From concentration vs. time data (e.g. Lab 17 in Chem 1112)
we would do the following:
ln[A]t = k |{z}
t + ln[A]0
| {z } |{z} | {z }
y m x b

First order kinetics; we obtain a straight line when the data is plotted
on a logarithmic scale.

Half-life: The half-life of a reaction (t1/2) is the time required for

the reactant concentration to drop to half of its original value.
We express this as
[A]0 [A]t1/2 1
[A]t = [A]t1/2 = ) =
2 [A]0 2
Then the integrated rate law gives
[A]t1/2 1
ln = ln = kt1/2
[A]0 2
 1 0.693
ln = ln 2 ⇡ 0.693 so that t1/2 =
2 k

First order kinetics; the concentration is halved every half-life. (from

chemwiki.ucdavis.edu)

e.g., Calculate the rate constant for the first order decay of
24
Na (t1/2 = 14.96 hours).

Solution: ✓ ◆
0.693 0.693 2 1 24 h 1
14.96 h = ) k= = 4.63⇥10 h ⇥ = 1.11 day
k 14.96 h 1 day
e.g., The decomposition of H2O2 is first order:
H2O2 → H2O + ½ O2 with k = 7.00 × 10-4 s-1 and [H2O2]0 =
0.100 M. How long will it take for [H2O2] = 0.0370 M?

Solution:
[A]t 1 [A]t 1 0.0370 M
ln = kt ) t = ln = ln
[A]0 k [A]0 7 ⇥ 10 4 s 1 0.100 M
= 1420 s = 23.7 min.

Second Order Reactions

For A + B → C,
A second order reaction looks like either
1) rate = k[A]2
2) rate = k[A][B]

We will only consider case 1).

Similar to the first order case, we redefine the rate constant to
include the stoichiometric coefficient. We write
[A]
rate = = k[A]2
t Now we change Δ to d (finite
change to infinitesimal change):
d[A] 2 1
= k[A] ) 2
d[A] = k dt
dt [A]
Then we integrate from t = 0 to t = t
Z [A]t Z t
1 1 1
d[A] = k dt ) + = kt
[A]0 [A]2 0 [A]t [A]0
and rearrange
1 1
= kt +
[A]t [A]0
Second order kinetics: a plot of 1/[A] vs. time has slope k and intercept
1/[A]0

To compute the half-life, we use [A]t = [A]t1/2 = [A]0 /2

1 1 1
= kt1/2 + ) t1/2 =
[A]0 /2 [A]0 k[A]0

e.g., The reaction 2A → B is second order in A with k = 32 M-1

s-1. (a) With [A]0 = 0.0075 M, how long does it take for [A] to
drop to 0.0018 M? Calculate the half-life of the reaction for [A]0
= 0.0075 M and for [A]0 = 0.0025 M.
Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 1
= kt + ) kt = ) t=
[A]t [A]0 [A]t [A]0 k[A]t k[A]0

1 1
t= = 17.36 s 4.17 s
(32 M 1 s 1 )(0.0018 M ) (32 M 1 s 1 )(0.0075 M )
=13.2 s. For the half-life,
1
t1/2 = = 4.17 s
(32 M 1 s 1 )(0.0075 M )
1
t1/2 = = 12.5 s
(32 M 1 s 1 )(0.0025 M )

Zeroth Order Reactions

A zeroth order reaction is independent of reactant

concentration: For aA → products, rate = k[A]0 = k.

Once again, we redefine the rate constant to include the

stoichiometric coefficient and write
[A]
=k
t
Now we change Δ to d (finite change to infinitesimal change):
d[A]
= k ) d[A] = k dt
dt
Then we integrate from t = 0 to t = t
Z [A]t Z t
d[A] = k dt ) [A]t [A]0 = kt or [A]t = kt + [A]0
[A]0 0
A plot of [A] versus time yields a straight line with slope -k and
intercept [A]0
Dependence of Reaction Rate on Temperature

Reactions almost always occur faster at higher temperature.

Quantified by the Arrhenius Equation for the rate constant
Ea /RT
k = Ae
A = frequency factor
Ea = activation energy
R = gas constant = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1
T = temperature (in K)

Increase Ea : decrease k
Increase T : increase k

Take the logarithm of the Arrhenius Equation:

Ea
ln k = ln A (used ln xy = ln x + ln y)
RT

We can obtain the activation energy and the frequency factor from a
plot of ln k versus 1/T.
Now, consider two different temperatures:
Ea Ea
ln k1 = ln A (1) and ln k2 = ln A (2)
RT1 RT2

Subtract (1) – (2)

✓ to obtain ◆
k1 Ea 1 1
ln =
k2 R T2 T1

e.g., Determine Ea, and also k at 655 K, from the data:

T (K) k (s-1)
625 1.1 x 10-4
635 1.5 x 10-4
645 2.0 x 10-4

Solution:

From the first

✓ two data points,
◆
1.1 Ea 1 1
ln = ) 0.31 = (Ea /R)( 2.52 ⇥ 105 K 1
)
1.5 R 635 K 625 K
1 1
Ea = ( 0.31)(8.314 J K mol )/( 2.52 ⇥ 105 K 1
) = 102.3 kJ/mol

Then, using T = 645 K and T = ✓ 655 K, we have◆

1
2.0 102.3 ⇥ 103 J mol 1 1
ln = 1 = 0.291
k 1
8.314 J K mol 655 K 645 K
) ln 2.0 ⇥ 10 4 ln k = 0.291 ) ln k = 8.226
) k = e 8.226 = 2.7 ⇥ 10 4
Reaction Mechanisms

o Most reactions occur in a series of steps

o The balanced equation does not tell us how the reaction
occurs!
o The series of steps is the reaction mechanism

Consider the reaction 2 NO(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO2(g)

This reaction cannot occur as written because

1. The simultaneous collision of 3 molecules is unlikely
2. N2O2 is detected during the course of the reaction

Possible mechanism:
elementary rxn 1: NO + NO → N2O2 (slow)
elementary rxn 2: N2O2 + O2 → 2 NO2 (fast)
The elementary reactions must add up to give the overall rxn.
Rate determining step: slowest step in the rxn mechanism
(elementary step with the largest activation energy)

Step 1 (slow) is the rate determining step (highest activation energy).

N2O2 is called an intermediate because
1. It appears in the mechanism but not in the balanced Eq.
2. It is produced in one step and consumed in a later step.

For each elementary reaction, the rate law is given by the

stoichiometry coefficients:

elementary rxn 1: NO + NO → N2O2 (slow)

rate1 = k1[NO]2

elementary rxn 2: N2O2 + O2 → 2 NO2 (fast)

rate2 = k2[N2O2][O2]

The rate law of the rate-determining step must be equal to the

overall reaction rate law.

For 2 NO(g) + O2(g) → 2 NO2(g) this is: rate = k[NO]2

For the reaction H2 + 2ICl → 2HCl + I2 the experimentally

determined rate law = k[H2][ICl].

What reaction mechanism is consistent with this information?

elementary rxn 1: H2 + ICl → HCl + HI (slow)

elementary rxn 2: HI + ICl → HCl + I2 (fast)
e.g., Propose a plausible mechanism for the reaction
A + 2B → C + D given that the rate law is k[A][B]

Solution:
elementary rxn 1: A+B→C+E (slow)
elementary rxn 2: B+E→D (fast)

Mechanisms with a Fast First Step

Consider the reaction 2NO(g) + Cl2(g) → 2NOCl(g)

with experimentally determined rate = k[NO]2[Cl2].

One possibility is that this reaction is an elementary step. But

this is unlikely because it would require 3 molecules
simultaneously colliding.

A more plausible mechanism is

elementary rxn 1: NO + Cl2 → NOCl2 (fast)
elementary rxn 2: NOCl2 + NO → 2NOCl (slow)

The overall rate law is given by the rate-determining step,

which gives rate = k[NOCl2][NO]

But this rate expression contains an intermediate, NOCl2. We

need an expression that only contains the reactants, or else
we can’t compare to the experimental rate law.
Since NOCl2 is produced quickly and consumed slowly, it
reaches a steady state concentration, and the first (fast) step
establishes a dynamic equilibrium (forward = backward rate).

We express this as:

k1
NO + Cl2 ⌦ NOCl2
k 1

k2
` NOCl2 + NO ! 2NOCl
The dynamic equilibrium is
k1 [NO][Cl2 ] = k 1 [NOCl2 ]
which lets us express
k1
[NOCl2 ] = [NO][Cl2 ]
k 1
The rate law is then:
k2 k1
rate = k2 [NOCl2 ][NO] = [NO]2 [Cl2 ]
k 1
e.g., The reaction H2 + I2 → 2HI proceeds via a 2-step
mechanism in which the rate law for the rate-determining step
= k[H2][I]2. Write the mechanism and rewrite the rate law using
only reactant concentrations.

Solution:
k1
elementary rxn 1 : I2 ⌦ 2I (fast)
k 1
k2
elementary rxn 2 : H2 + 2I ⌦ 2HI (slow)

2
The dynamic equilibrium is k 1 [I 2 ] = k 1 [I]
2 k1 k2 k1
so that [I] = [I2 ] ) rate = [H2 ][I2 ]
k 1 k 1
Catalyst:
In the presence of iodide ions (I-), the decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide speeds up.
Overall rxn: 2H2O2(aq) → 2H2O(l) + O2(g)
Experimental rate law = k[H2O2][I-]
elementary rxn 1: H2O2 + I- → H2O + IO- (slow)
elementary rxn 2: H2O2 + IO- → H2O + O2 + I- (fast)

Recall that IO- is called an intermediate because

1. It appears in the mechanism but not in the balanced Eq.
2. It is produced in one step and consumed in a later step.

What about the iodide ion?

1. It, also, does not appear in the balanced Eq.
2. It is consumed in one step and produced in a later step.

It is present at the start of the rxn, and it is present at the end.

It is called a catalyst. Its function is to speed up the reaction.

A catalyst lowers the activation energy for a chemical reaction.

Types of Catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysts: The reactants and catalyst are

in different phases. The catalyst is often a solid (with a high
surface area).
These are extremely important in industrial chemistry.

Homogeneous catalysts: The reactants and catalyst are

in the same phase.

Enzyme catalysts: biological catalysts (in living cells)

A biological catalyst (E = enzyme) lowers the activation energy for a

chemical reaction.