Kinetics Problems

1. Ethanal (CH3CHO) decomposes by a second order reaction into methane gas

and carbon monoxide gas. The rate of decomposition at 413 K is 0.10 M/s when
the concentration of ethanal is 0.10 M.
CH3CHO (g) CH4 (g) + CO (g)

(A) Write the rate law for this reaction.

(B) Solve for the rate constant k.

(C) What will the rate of decomposition be when the ethanal

concentration is 0.5 M?

2. Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 decomposes by a first order decomposition to

water and oxygen and has a rate constant of 0.015 min-1 at 200 oC. Suppose you
start with a 0.500 M solution of hydrogen peroxide.

(A) Calculate the molarity of the hydrogen peroxide after 10.0 minutes. You
many assume the water produced from the decomposition does not change the
volume of the solution appreciably.

(B) At what time will the concentration be 0.150 M?

3. Consider the reaction of the bromate and bromide ions in acid solution, show
below:
BrO3- (aq) + 5Br- (aq) + 6H+ (aq) 3Br2 (l) + 3H2O (l)

The following table shows the results of several experiments used to determine
order of the reaction with respect to the three reactants.

Experiment [BrO3-], M [Br-], M [H+], M Initial Rate,

M/s
1 0.10 0.10 0.10 8.0 x 10-4
2 0.20 0.10 0.10 1.6 x 10-3
3 0.20 0.20 0.10 3.2 x 10-3
4 0.10 0.10 0.20 3.2 x 10-3

(A) Determine the rate law of the reaction.

(B) What is the overall order of the reaction

(C) Using experiment #1, calculate the rate law constant, k. Be sure to include
units!

(D) Predict the rate if [BrO3-] = 0.15 M, [Br-] = 0.15 M and [H+] = 0.15 M
 Answer Key

Ethanal (CH3CHO) decomposes by a second order reaction into methane gas and
carbon monoxide gas. The rate of decomposition at 413 K is 0.10 M/s when the
concentration of ethanal is 0.10 M.
CH3CHO (g) CH4 (g) + CO (g)

(A) Write the rate law for this reaction.

Since the problem directly says second order, the rate law is:
Rate = k[CH3CHO]2

(B) Solve for the rate constant k.

(C) What will the rate of decomposition be when the ethanal

concentration is 0.5 M?

2. Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 decomposes by a first order decomposition to

water and oxygen and has a rate constant of 0.015 min-1 at 200 oC. Suppose you
start with a 0.500 M solution of hydrogen peroxide.

(A) Calculate the molarity of the hydrogen peroxide after 10.0 minutes. You
many assume the water produced from the decomposition does not change the
volume of the solution appreciably.

(B) At what time will the concentration be 0.150 M?

3. Consider the reaction of the bromate and bromide ions in acid solution, show
below:
BrO3- (aq) + 5Br- (aq) + 6H+ (aq) 3Br2 (l) + 3H2O (l)

The following table shows the results of several experiments used to determine
order of the reaction with respect to the three reactants.

Experiment [BrO3-], M [Br-], M [H+], M Initial Rate,

M/s
1 0.10 0.10 0.10 8.0 x 10-4
2 0.20 0.10 0.10 1.6 x 10-3
3 0.20 0.20 0.10 3.2 x 10-3
4 0.10 0.10 0.20 3.2 x 10-3

(A) Determine the rate law of the reaction.

To find the rate with respect to bromate, compare experiments 1 and 2,
note that rate doubles as concentration doubles. FIRST ORDER
To find the rate with respect to bromide, compare experiments 2 and 3,
note that the rate doubles as concentration doubles. FIRST ORDER.
To find the rate with respect with hydrogen ions, compare experiments 1
and 4, Note that rate quadruples as concentration doubles. SECOND
ORDER
Rate Law is Rate = k[BrO3-][Br-][H+]2

(B) What is the overall order of the reaction?

Overall order is sum of exponents, 1 + 1 + 2 = 4

(C) Using experiment #1, calculate the rate law constant, k. Be sure to include
units!

(D) Predict the rate if [BrO3-] = 0.15 M, [Br-] = 0.15 M and [H+] = 0.15 M

Rate = k[BrO3-][Br-][H+]2 = 8.0 M-3 s-1

Rate = (0.15 M)(0.15 M)(0.15 M)2 = 4.1 x 10-3 M s-1

Questions, comments, concerns? Please email John Kiser at jkiser@wpcc.edu