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Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics
Chapter 14, Problem 110e

The following mechanism has been proposed for the gasphase reaction of chloroform 1CHCl32 and chlorine:
Step 1: Cl2(g) k1⇌ k-1 2 Cl(g) (fast)
Step 2: Cl(g) + CHCl3(g) k2→ HCl(g) + CCl3(g) (slow)
Step 3: Cl(g0 + CCl3(g) k3→ CCl4 (fast)
(e) What is the rate law predicted by this mechanism? (Hint: The overall reaction order is not an integer.)

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the rate-determining step (RDS) in the mechanism. The slowest step, Step 2, is the rate-determining step, which involves Cl(g) and CHCl3(g).
Write the rate law based on the RDS. Since Step 2 is the slow step, the rate law is: rate = k2[Cl][CHCl3].
Recognize that Cl(g) is an intermediate and its concentration needs to be expressed in terms of reactants. Use the pre-equilibrium assumption for Step 1, where Cl2(g) ⇌ 2 Cl(g) is fast and reversible.
Apply the equilibrium expression for Step 1: K_eq = [Cl]^2 / [Cl2]. Solve for [Cl] in terms of [Cl2]: [Cl] = sqrt(K_eq * [Cl2]).
Substitute the expression for [Cl] from Step 4 into the rate law from Step 2: rate = k2[sqrt(K_eq * [Cl2])][CHCl3]. Simplify to find the overall rate law, which will show that the reaction order is not an integer.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Reaction Mechanism

A reaction mechanism is a step-by-step description of the pathway through which reactants are converted into products. It outlines individual elementary steps, each with its own rate, and helps in understanding how the overall reaction occurs. In this case, the mechanism involves multiple steps, including fast and slow reactions, which influence the overall rate law.
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Rate Law

The rate law expresses the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction and the concentration of its reactants. It is determined by the slowest step in the reaction mechanism, known as the rate-determining step. The rate law can include fractional orders, indicating that the reaction does not follow simple stoichiometry, as suggested in the question.
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Elementary Steps

Elementary steps are individual reactions that occur in a reaction mechanism. Each step has its own rate constant and can be classified as either fast or slow. The slow step typically dictates the overall rate law, while fast steps can establish equilibrium conditions, as seen in the first step of the provided mechanism involving the dissociation of Cl2.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The gas-phase decomposition of ozone is thought to occur by the following two-step mechanism.

Step 1: O3(g) ⇌ O2(g) + O(g) (fast)

Step 2: O(g) + O3(g) → 2 O2 (slow)

(b) Derive the rate law that is consistent with this mechanism. (Hint: The product appears in the rate law.)

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Textbook Question

The gas-phase decomposition of ozone is thought to occur by the following two-step mechanism.

Step 1: O3(g) ⇌ O2(g) + O(g) (fast)

Step 2: O(g) + O3(g) → 2 O2 (slow)

(d) If instead the reaction occurred in a single step, would the rate law change? If so, what would it be?

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Textbook Question
The following mechanism has been proposed for the gasphasereaction of chloroform 1CHCl32 and chlorine:Step 1: Cl21g2 Δ k1 k - 1 2 Cl1g2 1fast2Step 2: Cl1g2 + CHCl31g2 ¡k2 HCl1g2 + CCl31g2 1slow2Step 3: Cl1g2 + CCl31g2 ¡k3 CCl4 1fast2(a) What is the overall reaction?
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Textbook Question

In a hydrocarbon solution, the gold compound (CH3)3AuPH3 decomposes into ethane (C2H6) and a different gold compound, (CH3)AuPH3. The following mechanism has been proposed for the decomposition of (CH3)3AuPH3:

Step 1: (CH3)3AuPH3 k1⇌k-1 (CH3)3Au + PH3 (fast)

Step 2: (CH3)3Au k2→ C2H6 + (CH3)Au (slow)

Step 3: (CH3)Au + PH3 k3→ (CH3)AuPH3 (fast)

(a) What is the overall reaction?

(b) What are the intermediates in the mechanism?

Textbook Question

In a hydrocarbon solution, the gold compound (CH3)3AuPH3 decomposes into ethane (C2H6) and a different gold compound, (CH3)AuPH3. The following mechanism has been proposed for the decomposition of (CH3)3AuPH3:

Step 1: (CH3)3AuPH3 k1⇌k-1 (CH3)3Au + PH3 (fast)

Step 2: (CH3)3Au k2→ C2H6 + (CH3)Au (slow)

Step 3: (CH3)Au + PH3 k3→ (CH3)AuPH3 (fast)

(c) What is the molecularity of each of the elementary steps?

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