Problem 73
Question
In the following reaction, how is the rate of appear ance of the underlined product related to the rate of disappearance of the underlined reactant? \(\mathrm{BrO}_{3}^{-}(\mathrm{aq})+5 \mathrm{Br}(\mathrm{aq})+6 \mathrm{H}^{+}(\mathrm{aq}) \longrightarrow 3 \mathrm{Br}_{2}(1)\) \(+3 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{l})\) (a) \(\frac{\mathrm{d}\left[\mathrm{Br}_{2}\right]}{\mathrm{dt}}=-\frac{5}{3} \frac{\mathrm{d}[\mathrm{Br}]}{\mathrm{dt}}\) (b) \(\frac{\mathrm{d}\left[\mathrm{Br}_{2}\right]}{\mathrm{dt}}=-\frac{\mathrm{d}[\mathrm{Br}]}{\mathrm{dt}}\) (c) \(\frac{\mathrm{d}\left[\mathrm{Br}_{2}\right]}{\mathrm{dt}}=\frac{\mathrm{d}[\mathrm{Br}]}{\mathrm{dt}}\) (d) \(\frac{\mathrm{d}\left[\mathrm{Br}_{2}\right]}{\mathrm{dt}}=-\frac{3}{5} \frac{\mathrm{d}[\mathrm{Br}]}{\mathrm{dt}}\)
Step-by-Step Solution
VerifiedKey Concepts
Rate of Reaction
The mathematical representation involves derivatives, such as \(\frac{d[\mathrm{Br}]}{dt}\) and \(\frac{d[\mathrm{Br}_2]}{dt}\), which denote the rate of change over time. Understanding these rates helps us link the changes in reactant and product concentrations, illustrating how the stoichiometry of a balanced chemical equation can define these relationships. For our equation, the rate of appearance of \(\mathrm{Br}_2\) is directly proportional to a fraction of the rate of disappearance of \(\mathrm{Br}\). This linkage is crucial in predicting how concentrations evolve as the reaction progresses.
Stoichiometry
In the provided chemical reaction, \(\mathrm{BrO}_3^- + 5 \mathrm{Br} + 6 \mathrm{H}^+ \rightarrow 3 \mathrm{Br}_2 + 3 \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}\), stoichiometry reveals the ratios, such as the 5 moles of \(\mathrm{Br}\) corresponding to 3 moles of \(\mathrm{Br}_2\). Consequently, stoichiometry allows us to deduce that for every 5 molecules of \(\mathrm{Br}\) disappearing, 3 molecules of \(\mathrm{Br}_2\) are appearing.
This ratio translates into rate relationships, where the slope or ratio in the rate expressions is derived directly from stoichiometric coefficients. For any chemical problem, having the right stoichiometric calculations ensures accurate and meaningful interpretations of reaction dynamics.
Reaction Mechanism
Each step within a mechanism can encompass different reaction rates, contributing to the overall rate of the principal reaction. Individual steps demonstrate interactions at a molecular level, sometimes involving intermediates that do not appear in the overall balanced equation. Thus, the observed rate laws are usually reflections of the slowest step in the mechanism, frequently termed the rate-determining step.
Knowledge of the stoichiometry and rate laws can support predictions about mechanisms, helping verify the coherence of proposed steps with experimental data. Through reaction mechanisms, we edge closer to depicting the actual pathways, offering insights impossible to gain from examination of the balanced equation alone.