Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

Consider the combustion of methane in oxygen (a reaction we\'ve seen when we\'ve

ID: 1052546 • Letter: C

Question

Consider the combustion of methane in oxygen (a reaction we've seen when we've lit soap bubbles on fire), which is a highly exothermic reaction.


True or False - Once the activation energy has been reached, increasing the temperature will have no effect on the rate of the reaction.
True or False - A mixture of methane and oxygen can be kept in the same container indefinitely at room temperature with no change because there are no collisions taking place between the molecules.
True or False - Once the activation energy has been reached increasing the concentration of methane and oxygen will increase the rate of the reaction.
True or False - A successful collision (one that leads to the combustion of methane) will have sufficient energy and any orientation between molecules.

Explanation / Answer

This type of questions require good knowledge on Lechatlier's Principle

1. Once the activation energy has been reached, increasing the temperature will have no effect on the rate of the reaction.-----------False

Reason: Since it is exothermic reaction (means heat released from the reaction), increasing temperature will decrease rate of reaction.

2. A mixture of methane and oxygen can be kept in the same container indefinitely at room temperature with no change because there are no collisions taking place between the molecules. ----- True

Reason: Because the collisions taking place between the molecules do not have enough energy to reach overcome the reaction barrier.

3. Once the activation energy has been reached increasing the concentration of methane and oxygen will increase the rate of the reaction. ---- True

Reason: According to Lechatlier's Principle increasing the concentration of reactants will shift the equilibrium towards right (product side)

4. A successful collision (one that leads to the combustion of methane) will have sufficient energy and any orientation between molecules. ---- True

Reason: A successful collision (one that leads to the combustion of methane) means it has already crossed the barrier activation energy. [ suppose you are fired on one person at that moment you may use any hand or any leg to teach him what is good] :)