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II. Calculation of activation energy (5points) Arrhenius equation can be represe

ID: 536089 • Letter: I

Question

II. Calculation of activation energy (5points)

Arrhenius equation can be represented as

             lnk = -Ea/(RT)  +  lnA

where k is the rate constant, Ea the activation energy, T the absolute temperature, R the gas constant (8.314 J/molK), and A the collision frequency factor among molecules.

Plotting of the set of data between lnk and 1/T reveals a straight line with its slope being Ea/R. Therefore, the activation energy, Ea, can be obtained because Excel plotting will give you the value for the slope and the gas constant R is already known.

The following table is assumed to show the rate constants for the above reaction:

Temperature, X(°c)              k, Y (s-1)

189.7                                 0.0000252

198.9                                0.0000525

230.3                                0.0006300

251.2                               0.0031600

(II-1) Using these data, calculate the activation energy for the reaction. Show both the  regenerated data table and the plot from which you obtain the activation energy.

(II-2) What is the value of the rate constant at 430.0 K?  

        (Hint: Use anyone of the rate constants and temperatures from the given table and  the following equation):  

       ln(k1/k2)  =  Ea/R(1/T2 – 1/T1)

Explanation / Answer

the data on temperature need to be converted into K, by T (K)= t(deg.c)+273

from Arhenius equation, lnK= lnKo-Ea/RT, Ea= activation energy , K= rate constant , T= temperature in K, Ko= Frequency factor,

so a plot of lnK vs 1/T gives a straight line whose slope is Ea/R, where R= 8.314 J/mole.K. the plot along with the data points are shown below

from the plot, the equation of best fit is lnK= -19038*1/T+30.51

from the best fit, Ea/R= slope= 19038, Ea= 19038*8.314 joules/mole =158292 J/mole

at 430K

lnK = -19038/430+30.51 = -13.76

K= 1.052*10-6/sec