Determining the Activation Energy of a Chemical Reaction

The activation energy of the rate limiting step in the acid catalyst reaction of acetone with iodine
by measuring the reaction rate at different temperatures. Rate data as a function of
temperature, fit to the Arrhenius equation, yield an estimate of the activation energy.
Two type Arrhenius equations use to calculate activation energy.
1. slope-intercept form
𝐸𝑎 1
𝑙𝑛𝑘(𝑇) = − ( ) − ln⁡(𝐴)
𝑅 𝑇
2. Point-Slope form
𝐸𝑎 1 1
𝑙𝑛𝑘(𝑇2) − 𝑙𝑛𝑘(𝑇1) = − ( − )
𝑅 𝑇2 𝑇1
Where k represents the rate constant, Ea is the activation energy, R is the gas constant (8.3145
J/K mol), and T is the temperature express in Kelvin. A is known as the frequency factor, having
units of L (mol-1 s-1) and takes into account the frequency of reactions and likelihood of correct
molecular orientation.
To determine the activation energy of the rate-determining step run the iodine acetone reaction
at room temperature (-22 °C) and 4°C, 35°C and 15°C. From the iodine acetone reaction, select
a set of reactant concentrations and multiply each one by four when run this experiment. This
set of reagent concentrations use throughout the temperature study.

Experimental Procedure to determine the activation energy of the rate-determining step is as

follows:
• Obtain 30 mL of4.0 M acetone, 15 mL of 1.0 M HCI and 10 mL of Iodine Solution in
beakers. Keep a watch glass over the reagent beakers while not in use. Keeping a
reaction at a fix temperature takes some experimental care. It is no good to have a flask
in a water bath at 40°C and then place reagents that are at 22°C in the flask and expect
to know the temperature.

• In a 1000 mL beaker prepare a water bath at room temperature.

• Clamp the 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask into the water bath along with a thermometer and a
test tube to hold Iodine solution. Also, set up a magnetic stirrer under the flask; place the
stirring bar in the flask.
• Measure and pour the amounts of acetone and HCI that uses in the reaction into the 125
mL reaction flask. Turn on the stirrer. Pour into a clean test tube the amount of Iodine to
use in the reaction. Clamp each solution into the water bath and let it sit for five minutes
to equilibrate to the bath temperature.
• After the 5 minutes of equilibration, record the water bath temperature. This is the
reaction temperature. Remove the Iodine solution from the clamp and quickly add it to
the reaction mixture. At the same time add the Iodine solution, begin timing the reaction.
Figure: Schematic of the water bath use in the temperature rate study. Allow the reactants to
equilibrate in the bath temperature for 5 minutes.

• Observe the color change by looking from the side not the top. When the iodine color
goes the reaction is complete.
• When the reaction completes, clean glassware and prepare to run the reaction in a new
water bath. The Iodine test tube should not need to clean so it will always contain the
same concentration of liquid.
• From the reaction time and the initial Iodine concentration, determine the reaction rate at
this temperature.
• Using warm water from the sink, run the reaction at a temperature between 30 and
38°C. In a third set of experiments run the reaction in a water bath that is between 40
and 45°C. In each case the specific temperature of the reaction is not important, as long
as record what the temperature is exactly. For a low temperature run, prepare an ice
bath that is between 10 and 15°C.
• After determining the reaction rate (M/s) at four different temperatures between 10 and
50°C, clean glassware and return 1000 mL beaker, thermometer and ring stand.