General Chemistry 2: 2 Semester - Module 7
General Chemistry 2: 2 Semester - Module 7
General Chemistry 2: 2 Semester - Module 7
Department of Education
Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
SHS
GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2
2nd Semester - Module 7
REACTION MECHANISM,
ENERGY DIAGRAM AND CATALYSIS
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The module covers lessons and activities aligned with the prescribed content standards and
the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS):
What's In
In the previous module, you have learned about how various factors influence the rate of
chemical reactions. You have also determined and differentiated the order of reaction based on
the rate law equation. Everything you learned about chemical reactions and how a chemical
reaction takes place is useful as you go through the lessons and activities contained in this
module.
1
The rate of reaction refers to the speed at which the products are formed from the reactants
in a chemical reaction. It gives some insight into the time frame under which a reaction can be
completed. It can be calculated by measuring changes in reactants and products. The rate at
which chemical reactions take place is affected by temperature, concentration, particle size and
the presence of a catalyst.
Rate laws or rate equations are mathematical expressions that describe the relationship
between the rate of a chemical reaction and the concentration of its reactants. In general, a rate
law takes this form: Rate = k[A]m[B]n…in which [A] and [B] represent the molar concentrations of
reactants, and k is the rate constant, which is specific for a particular reaction at a particular
temperature. The exponents m and n are usually positive integers. The rate constant k and the
exponents m and n must be determined experimentally by observing how the rate of a reaction
changes as the concentrations of the reactants are changed. The rate constant k is independent
of the concentration of A or B, but it does vary with temperature and surface area.
The exponents in a rate law describe the effects of the reactant concentrations on the
reaction rate and define the reaction order. Consider a reaction for which the rate law is: Rate =
k[A]m[B]n. If the exponent m is 1, the reaction is first order with respect to A. If m is 2, the reaction
is second order with respect to A. If n is 1, the reaction is first order in B. If n is 2, the reaction is
second order in B. If m or n is zero, the reaction is zero order in A or B, respectively, and the rate
of the reaction is not affected by the concentration of that reactant. The overall reaction order is
the sum of the orders with respect to each reactant. If m = 1 and n = 1, the overall order of the
reaction is second order (m + n = 1 + 1 = 2).
How does a chemical reaction really take place at the molecular level?
What's New
The Collision Theory: A Review
Source: https://eduthinkering.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/COMIC.jpg
2
The 1. __________ states that molecules must 2. _________to react. For
most reactions, however, only a small fraction of collisions produces a
reaction. In order for a collision to be successful, the reactant molecules
must collide with sufficient 3. _________ to overcome the 4. ___________,
which is the initial and minimum energy input required to start the reaction.
The colliding particles must also be in 5. _______________ to form any new
bonds in the products. In order to increase the chance of collisions, the 6.
____________, 7. _____________ and 8. _____________ may be increased. The
speed of reaction may also be increased by adding 9. _________ without it
being necessarily used up in the 10. ___________. This special chemical
lowers the amount of energy required to start the reaction.
Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/13765312/
Questions:
3
What Is It
THE REACTION PROCESS AND THE COLLISION THEORY
A balanced chemical equation does not show the actual and full details of a chemical
reaction. During a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged, and a new substance (or substances)
is formed with different properties. The process involves the breaking and formation of bonds. The
reaction occurs not in a single step but in a series of steps. The reaction mechanism of a chemical
reaction is the sequence of actual events that take place as reactant molecules are converted into
products. Each of these events constitutes an elementary step that can be represented as a
coming-together of discrete particles ("collision") or as the breaking-up of a molecule
("dissociation") into simpler units. The molecular entity that emerges from each step may be a final
product of the reaction. It might also be an intermediate or an activated complex-- a species
created in one elementary step and destroyed in a subsequent step, and therefore does not appear
in the net reaction equation.
Collision Theory and Activation Energy
A2 + B2 → 2AB
In order for the reaction above to take place, the molecules of A 2 must collide with the molecules
of B2. Once the molecules of A2 come in contact with the molecules of B2, a short-lived molecule
A2B2 is formed. The bonds of A2 and B2 are broken, and new bonds are formed. The rearrangement
of atoms (and of bonds) will cause the formation of new substance AB. Initially, in a container filled
with the substances A2 and B2, no AB is present. Then molecular collisions proceed, and AB is
formed.
A2 + B2 → A2B2 → 2AB
Activated Complex
However, not all collisions of A2 and B2 form the product AB. Only effective or successful
collisions will result in the formation of a product. For an effective collision to occur, there
must be a proper orientation of the reactant molecules during the collision. If the collision
is not effective, products are not formed.
The A2B2 intermediate complex is a short-lived molecule, and therefore very unstable. Hence
the activated complex has the following characteristics:
(1) It is unstable because it is a short-lived molecule.
(2) It possesses high energy.
(3) It is the rate-determining step in a reaction.
4
Both (a) F2 and NO2 molecules have insufficient energy although
correct orientation and (c) F2 and NO2 molecules have incorrect orientation
although with insufficient energy lead to no reaction. When (b) both reactant
molecules have sufficient energy and correct orientation the reaction occurs.
Source: https://alevelchemistry.co.uk/notes/collision-theory/
There are two conditions required for a chemical reaction to take place:
(1) Molecules must collide with sufficient kinetic energy to break and re-form existing
bonds, and
(2) Molecules must effectively collide with favorable spatial orientation.
Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy needed for the formation of the
activated complex and for the reaction to proceed.
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1 A - Reactant(s)
B - Product(s)
C - Activation Energy
3
D - Heat of Reaction
E - Activated Complex
2 4
There are two types of reactions concerning energy release or absorption, which are the
following:
Both endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions require energy to get started. It might
seem odd that since energy is released in an exothermic reaction, there should not be any need to
input some energy for the reaction to occur.
Why does a reaction need the input of energy if the energy is consequently released?
Consider the following examples of exothermic reactions occurring in our everyday lives.
In an energy diagram, the vertical axis of the plot is potential energy, while the x-axis or
horizontal axis is the extent of reaction or reaction path (also reaction progress or reaction
coordinates).
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The illustration shows that the activation energy (double arrow interval) is marked as the
difference between the energy of the activated complex (at the top of the hill) and the energy of
reactants. The double arrow interval between the reactants and products shows the difference in
energy between the products and the reactants. This energy difference is called the heat of reaction,
which indicates whether a reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
For exothermic reactions, the potential energy of the product is generally lower than that of
the reactant. The energy difference comes out to be negative (ΔE = Energy of product – Energy of
Reactant).
On the other hand, the potential energy of the product in an endothermic reaction is higher
than that of the reactants and comes out positive (ΔE = +). This gap in the potential energy accounts
for the energy that was absorbed by the system during the chemical reaction.
Earlier it was mentioned that it is the collision of particles that causes reactions to occur
and that only some of these collisions are successful. This is because the reactant particles have
a wide range of kinetic energies, and only a small fraction of the particles will have enough energy
(and the correct orientation) to actually break bonds so that a chemical reaction can take place.
The minimum energy that is needed for a reaction to take place is called the activation energy.
A catalyst increases reaction rates in a slightly different way from other methods of
increasing reaction rate. The function of a catalyst is to lower the activation energy so that a greater
proportion of the particles have enough energy to react. A catalyst can lower the activation energy
for a reaction by: orienting the reacting particles in such a way that successful collisions are more
likely reacting with the reactants to form an intermediate that requires lower energy to form the
product
Some metals e.g. Platinum, Copper and Iron can act as catalysts in certain reactions. In
our own bodies, we have enzymes that are catalysts, which help to speed up biological reactions.
Catalysts generally react with one or more of the reactants to form a chemical intermediate, which
then reacts to form the final product. The chemical intermediate is sometimes called the activated
complex. It must be emphasized though that an activated complex occurs in reactions without
catalysts as well as those with catalysts.
Energy diagrams like that in (a) are useful to illustrate the effect of a catalyst on reaction
rates. Catalysts lower the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed (shown by the smaller
magnitude (broken line) of the activation energy on the energy diagram. In effect, this increases
the reaction rate. In the presence of a catalyst, the average kinetic energy of the molecules remains
the same, but the required energy decreases
(a) (b)
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In the presence of a catalyst, the reaction proceeds in a different pathway (catalyzed
pathway), as shown in diagram (b). The catalyst is recovered at the end of the reaction.
In diagram (b), the catalyst increases the reaction rate by lowering the activation energy.
This type of catalyst is referred to as a positive catalyst. The types of catalysts are:
(1) Positive Catalyst – decreases the activation energy by accepting an alternative path for
the reaction to proceed and increasing the reaction rate. For example:
Pt(s)
2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)
(2) Negative Catalyst – also called inhibitor, decreases the rate of reaction but increases
the activation energy requirement by taking a longer alternative path. For example:
(3) Auto-catalyst – when one of the products formed in the reaction acts as a catalyst
(4) Induced-catalyst – a substance that influences the speed of a reaction, which is not
possible under ordinary conditions
Sodium sulfite solution readily oxidizes in air, but sodium arsenite solution does not
oxidize by passing air in the solution. When both these solutions are mixed, and air is passed,
then both the substances get oxidized.
Air
Na2SO3 Na2SO4
Air
Na2AsO3 No reaction
What's More
Activity 5: The Catalyst Analysis
Direction: Evaluate each statement as true or false. Write TRUE if the statement is correct,
otherwise rewrite the statement correctly.
1. A catalyst increases the energy of reactant molecules so that a chemical reaction can take
place.
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Increasing the temperature of a reaction has the effect of increasing the number of
reactant particles that have more energy than the activation energy.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. A catalyst does not become part of the final product in a chemical reaction.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. The ability of a catalyst to accelerate the chemical reaction is known as autocatalysis.
____________________________________________________________________
5. Positive catalysis decreases the activation energy and increases reaction rate.
______________________________________________________________________
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Activity 6. Practice Your Kinetics
A. Direction: Refer to the potential energy curve shown below to answer the questions.
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A. Any factor which causes an increase in the number of collisions between reactant particles will
cause an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction. Explain why each experimental factor causes
an increase in the number of collisions.
1. Increasing temperature: _________________________________________________
2. Increasing acid concentration: ___________________________________________
3. Increasing the surface area: ______________________________________________
B. Draw the energy diagram for the reaction and label the diagram based on the information given.
Use the letters only.
1. A : HCl + Mg
Potential Energy
2. B : MgCl2 + H2
3. C : activation energy
4. D : heat of the reaction
5. E : activated complex
Reaction Progress
C. Tell if the reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
[Explain.] __________________________________________________________________________________
What I Can Do
Activity 8: Explain the Story for Mastery
Direction: Provide a brief explanation of what could have gone right or wrong with the punishment
given to Sisyphus in the context of Collision Theory and Reaction Mechanism.
Source: https://www.davelabowitz.com
/blog/sisyphus-and-leadership/
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Scoring Rubric
Points Description
3 • Student understanding of science concepts is clearly evident and
very impressive.
• Student use of HOTS is logical and clearly evident.
2 • Student understanding of science concepts is evident but not really
impressive.
• Student use of logical and critical thinking skills is somewhat
evident.
1 • Student understanding of science concepts needs reinforcement.
• Student use of logical and critical thinking skills is wanting.
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Assessment
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
_____1. How does a catalyst increase the rate of a chemical reaction?
A. By decreasing the potential energy of the products
B. By increasing the potential energy of the reactants
C. By providing a pathway for the reaction that has a lower activation energy.
D. By increasing the energy of the reactants and overcome the activation energy.
_____5. Which reaction is the most endothermic? Use the same choices in No. 2.
_____6. Which reaction is the most exothermic? Use the same choices in No. 2.
_____7. The energy needed for a reaction to proceed from reactants to products is called __________.
____8. Collision theory assumes that the rate of a reaction depends on __________.
A. the energy of collisions.
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____10. The series of steps that most reactions undergo, from initial reactants to final products, is
called the:
A. catalytic conversion C. activation energy
B. entropy of reaction D. reaction mechanism
Additional Activities
Activity 9: Context Clues Chain Completion
Direction: In each item is an incomplete sentence. The beginning and ending phrases are
given. Provide the words in between to make a correct and complete concept.
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Answer Key General Chemistry 2 Module 7
Activity 1 Activity 3
1. 1. Mountain A (expected
2. answer) shorter height, less
3. energy involved, less effort
4. decreases – increases required
5. concentration – surface area 2. Mountain B (expected
6. answer), longer height to
7. reactant concentration – reach the peak or top
temperature Activity 4
8. 1. E
9. 2. A
10. increase – keep constant 3. C
Activity 2 4. D
1. Collision Theory 5. B
2. collide Activity 5
3. energy 1. False. A catalyst lowers the
4. activation energy activation energy of a reaction, so
5. proper orientation that a chemical reaction can take
6-8. concentration, temperature, place.
surface area [in any order] 2. True
9. catalyst 3. True
10. reaction 4. False – Positive Catalysis
5. True
Activity 6 Activity 8
1. Exothermic; the energy of product is lesser Answer may vary
than reactants and heat of reaction comes Assessment
out negative 1. C 6. A
2. Less than 2. B 7. D
3. (a) B; (b) E 3. D 8. C
4. (a) C; (b) A; (c) D 4. C 9. B
5. Increases the rate of reaction 5. B 10. D
6. None. The catalyst provides only a separate Activity 9
pathway with lower activation energy. 1. ---must collide with sufficient
Activity 7 energy / must collide with the
A. minimum energy input
1. Increased temperature, increases kinetic requirement called ------
energy and increases number of collisions 2. ----must have proper orientation
2. Increased concentration, increases the / be properly oriented or aligned
number of particles colliding and increased or positioned -----
frequency of collisions 3. ---lowers the activation energy ---
3. Increased surface area increases the -
number of reactant partricles exposed to 4. ---the energy or potential energy
collision and increased frequency of of reactants ----
collision 5. ----energy released or absorved --
B. [Please check against examples given.] --
C. Exothermic; the heat of reaction is negative and
it involves release of heat.
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