Stoichiometry & Reaction Rate
- Let’s consider the general reaction,
- The rate of reaction must be independent of the chemical substance used to calculate the rate
- There is only one positive value for the rate of reaction
- The stoichiometry of the reaction can be used to establish general equations for the rate of reaction
- The rate depends on the coefficient for each substance in the chemical equation
- The negative sign is added to the reactants since the rate is a positive value
- The brackets represent molarity
Worked example
What is the rate of appearance of NO2, if the rate of decomposition of N2O5 in the chemical reaction is 5.0 ✕ 10-8 M/s?
2N2O5 → 4NO2 + O2
Answer:
- Step 1: Identify the rate given by the statement. Since the rate of decomposition is calculated using a reactant, the rate must have a negative sign
- Step 2: Set up an equation that links the rate of decomposition of N2O5 and the rate of appearance of NO2
- Step 3: Replace the values given and solve for the rate of appearance of NO2