If the reaction Cl2 (g) + O3 (g) = Cl2O (g) + O2 (g) occurred in just two steps, what would be the overall order of the reaction be?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. not possible to determine from the information given
i have absolutly no idea how to do this
me neither cause im only in the 5th grade but i think the answer is e.
seriously? is this really happening?
lmao, I just literally lol'ed at those comments.
To determine the overall order of a reaction, you need to know the order of each individual step.
In this case, the given reaction occurs in two steps:
Step 1: Cl2 (g) + M → Cl2* + M* (where M and M* represent the collision partners)
Step 2: Cl2* + O3 (g) → Cl2O (g) + O2 (g)
Let's assume that each step has a specific order, represented by the variables 'x' and 'y.'
For Step 1, we have Cl2 reacting with an unknown species M to form an intermediate Cl2*. As there is no information given about the rate-determining step (the slowest step that controls the overall reaction rate), we cannot determine the order of Step 1. Let's assume it as 'a' for now.
Therefore, the rate law for Step 1 can be written as Rate₁ = k₁[Cl2]^a[M]^b.
For Step 2, we have Cl2* reacting with O3 to form Cl2O and O2. Assuming this step is first-order with respect to Cl2* and O3, the rate law for Step 2 can be written as Rate₂ = k₂[Cl2*][O3].
To determine the overall order of the reaction, we need to combine the rate laws of the individual steps. Since there is no information given to suggest a relationship between Cl2*, O3, and M, we cannot assume any links between these species. We will consider them as separate entities.
The overall rate law of the reaction is given by the slowest step (rate-determining step). Therefore, the overall rate law will depend on Step 1.
Assuming 'x' is the order of the overall reaction, we can write:
Rate = k₁[Cl2]^a[M]^b = k₂[Cl2*][O3] = k[Cl2]^x.
Equating the two rate expressions:
k₁[Cl2]^a[M]^b = k₂[Cl2*][O3]
k₁[Cl2]^a[M]^b / k₂[Cl2*][O3] = 1.
From this equation, it is clear that we cannot determine the order of the overall reaction with the given information. Therefore, the answer is (e) not possible to determine from the information given.