Reaction Mechanisms

Thursday, October 23, 2008

8:50 AM Reaction Mechanism
Reactions A series of steps that will add up to give the overall reaction (Like Hess's Law)
H2O2(l) -> H2O(l) + 1/2O2(g) 4 A + 3 B -> A4B3 Target (very unlikely to occur in a single step)
Only one particle involved with collision of peroxide molecules 1 A + 1B -> AB (The product is the reactant in the next step)
C(s) + O2(g) -> CO2(g) AB + 1A -> A2B (The species that are not found in the original equation are called reactive
Two particles colliding intermediates and are crossed off, ie AB)
2K(s) + I2(g) -> 2KI(s) A2B + 1B -> A2B2
Three particles colliding. A2B2 + 1A -> A3B2
Reactions involving three or less particles A3B2 + 1A -> A4B2
Chances of all three particles having the proper energy and A4B2 + 1B -> A4B3
orientation is high 4A + 3B -> A4B3
The reaction will proceed in a single step
Reactions that require more than 4 particles to collide Each individual step in a reaction mechanism is called an elementary step
simultaneously rarely occur in one step An elementary step will proceed as written (It cannot be broken down into a simpler
Odds that all the particles will have the required energy step)
and proper orientation decreases rapidly with 4 or more The reactive intermediates are produced in one elementary step and are immediately
reactant particles consumed in the next elementary step
Reactions that have 4 or more reactant species occur in a Do all elementary steps occur at the same rate? -> NO!!!
series of steps called a Rates of all the individual steps can be fast or slow.
REACTION MECHANISM The slowest elementary step is called the RATE DETERMINING STEP
The overall rate will equal the rate of the rate determining step.

Rate Determining Step

The overall rate will equal the rate of the rate determining step Homework:
The rate expression CANNOT include reactive intermediates even if Practice 1-6 pg 377
they are part of the rate determining step. 7-8 pg 381
Example: Section 1-4 pg 381
3A + 2B -> A3B2 Target
A + 2B -> AB2 Fast
AB2 + 2A -> A3B2 Slow -> Rate determining step
The rate expression is r=k[A]2 (because you were left with 2A after
eliminating reactive intermediates)

Reaction mechanisms are only best guesses - they must conform to the
following conditions
1. Each step MUST be an elementary step involving no more than 3
reactant particles
2. The rate determining step must be consistent with the rate equation
3. The elementary steps must add up to the overall equation
More than one reaction mechanism maybe possible

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