Kinetics Exercise

This problem set was developed by S.E. Van Bramer for Chemistry 146 at Widener University.


For the reaction 2 NO2 <-> 2 NO + O2 At 300 C

Kinetics Data

Experimental Data from Zumdahl
time (s)NO2 (atm)NO (atm)O2 (atm)
00.0100 0 0
50 0.00790.00210.0011
100 0.00650.00350.0018
150 0.00550.00450.0023
200 0.00480.00520.0026
250 0.00430.00570.0029
300 0.00380.00620.0031
350 0.00340.00660.0033
400 0.00310.00690.0035

  1. Plot NO2 pressure vs time

  2. Plot NO pressure vs time

  3. Plot O2 pressure vs time

Rate of the reaction:

Calculate the average concentration and the average rate of the reaction for each of the time differences. What are the appropriate units for the rate of the reaction? Graph the rate of the reaction for each time increment.

Rate Constant

The rate equation for a chemical reaction follows the form: Rate = k[reactant]x where:

  1. For the reaction of NO2, assume the reaction is zero order and calculate the rate constant k at each time interval and plot the results below. What are the units for k if the reaction is zero order? Comment on how well this assumption works.

  2. For the reaction of NO2, assume the reaction is first order and calculate the rate constant k at each time interval. What are the units for k if the reaction is zero order? Comment on how well this assumption works.

  3. For the reaction of NO2, assume the reaction is second order and calculate the rate constant k at each time interval. What are the units for k if the reaction is second order? Comment on how well this assumption works.

  4. Based upon the figures above, which of the following equations best fits this experimental data.

Rate Equation

Determine the rate equation for this reaction. Include the order of the reaction and the rate constant.


Graphs and figures to accompany exercise discussion
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Scott Van Bramer
Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013

Please send any comments, corrections, or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu.

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Last Updated 1/16/2008