Module 3: Chapter 10 (Reaction rates and equilibrium) Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Module 3: Chapter 10 (Reaction rates and equilibrium) Deck (24)
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1
Q

What is the rate of chemical reaction?

A

How fast a reactant is used up OR how fast a product is formed

2
Q

On a progress curve why is it the steepest at the start?

A

The rate is the fastest at the start of a reaction as each reactant is at its highest concentration

3
Q

What are the factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

A
  • Concentration (or pressure if reactants are gases)
  • Temperature
  • Use of a catalyst
  • Surface area of solid reactants
  • Radiation
4
Q

Describe Collision Theory?

A

For a reaction to occur reactant particles must come together and collide with:

  • the correct orientation
  • energy greater than the activation energy for the reaction
5
Q

How does increasing the concentration affect the rate?

A

Low concentration - less particles in a given volume so less frequent collisions and therefore a slower rate of reaction

Higher concentration - more particles in a given volume so more frequent collisions and therefore a faster rate of reaction

6
Q

How can the progress of a reaction be monitored?

A

By monitoring the removal of a reactant or monitoring the formation of a product, for example:

  • monitoring volume of gas produced at regular time intervals
  • monitoring the loss of mass using a balance
7
Q

What is a catalyst?

A
  1. A catalyst is a substance that changes the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent change itself
    · not used up itself
    · may react with the reactant to form an intermediate or may provide a surface for the reaction to happen on
    · at the end of the reaction it is always regenerated
  2. A catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation enthalpy
8
Q

What is a homogenous catalyst?

A

A homogenous catalyst has the same physical state as the reactants

E.g. ozone depletion
Cl· radicals from CFC’s catalyse the breakdown
2O3(g) <=Cl·(g)=> 3O2(g)

9
Q

What is a heterogenous catalyst?

A

A heterogenous catalyst has a different physical state from the reactants

10
Q

Describe the process of how catalysts work?

A
  1. The reactant molecules form weak bonds with the catalyst surface - this is called adsorption
  2. Bonds with the reactant molecules break
  3. New bonds form
  4. Product molecules leave the catalyst surface - this is known as desorption
11
Q

How are catalysts used in industry?

A
  • Catalysts increase the rate of many industrial chemical reactions by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation enthalpy
  • This lowers the temperature needed for the reaction
  • Lower temperatures means less electricity from combustion of fossil fuels used
  • Less combustions leads to a reduction of CO2 emissions and other atmospheric pollutants
  • Examples: Rhodium, Platinum and Palladium
12
Q

What does a Boltzmann distribution curve show?

A

Shows the spread of molecular energies in a sample of gas molecules

13
Q

Draw and label and label a Boltzmann distribution curve

A
  • No molecules have zero energy, so the curve starts at the origin
  • The area under the curve equals the total number of molecules
  • There is no maximum energy for a molecule so the curve never meets the x-axis
  • A line of Ea and shaded area shows the proportion of molecules with an energy greater than the activation energy
14
Q

Describe the line on the diagram is it was at a higher temperature

A

The peak is lowered and shifted to the right

A greater of proportion of molecules have an energy greater than the activation energy

15
Q

What happens at a higher temperature?

A
  • more molecules have an energy greater than/equal to the activation energy
  • a greater proportion of collisions will lead to a reaction, increasing the reaction rate
  • collisions will be more frequent as the molecules are moving faster, which also increases the reaction rate
16
Q

What happens to in the presence of a catalyst?

A
  • A greater proportion of molecules exceeds the new lower activation energy
  • more molecules collide with an energy greater than the activation energy
  • more effective collisions, therefore faster rate of reaction
17
Q

What happens in an equilibrium system?

A
  • the rate of the forwards reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reaction
  • the concentrations of the reactants and products remain constant
  • system must remained closed
18
Q

What is Le Chatelier’s principle?

A

When a system in equilibrium is subjected to an external change the system readjusts itself to minimise the effects of that

· the position of equilibrium indicates how far the reaction has progressed when equilibrium is established

19
Q

Describe what happens to the equilibrium for changing concentrations

A

A + B ⇌ C + D

· An increase in conc of A or B, or a decrease in conc in C or D causes the equilibrium position to move to the right (e.g. Add an acid, concentration of H+ ions increases so equilibrium position moves to the right/left)

· An increase in conc of C or D, or a decrease in conc of A or B the equilibrium concentration moves to the left

20
Q

Describe what happens to the equilibrium for changing pressure

A

only affects gases into gases
2NO2(g) ⇌ N2O4(g)
brown colourless

· an increase in pressure equilibrium position move to the side with fewer gaseous molecules (here it would move to the right, colourless colour)

· a decrease in pressure equilibrium position moves to side with more gaseous molecules

21
Q

Describe what happens to the equilibrium for changing temperature

A
  • a decrease in temperature, equilibrium favours the exothermic process
  • an increase in temperature, equilibrium will favour the endothermic process
22
Q

What happens to equilibrium position when a catalyst is added?

A
  • doesn’t change the position of equilibrium
  • it speeds up the rates of the forwards and reverse reaction equally
  • it will increase the rate at which equilibrium is established
23
Q

How is the equilibrium constant calculated?

A

[C]^c [D]^ [products]
Kc = —————- = —————–
[A]^a [B]^b [reactants]

24
Q

What does Kc tell us?

A

the magnitude of Kc tells us the relative proportions of reactants and products in the equilibrium system