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Activation Energy

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Energy of a Chemical System as the Reaction Proceeds

A spontaneous reaction usually releases energy. The mixture of reactants has more energy than that of the products. This energy is referred to as the chemical potential energy. The difference between the potential energies is called the enthalpy of reaction. A simple diagram illustrating this relationship is given below.
Chemical potential energies of reactants and products. The difference is the enthalpy of reaction.
This potential energy difference is the driving force for a chemical reaction to take place. After the reaction energy is released. The products are at a more stable energy level than the level the reactants are.

The Activation Energy, Ea

We all know that a mixture of H2 and O2 will not react until its temperature has reached the ignition point, despite the large amount of energy released in the oxidation reaction. This phenomenon is best described by the requirement of an activation energy, Ea. The relation between Ea and chemical potential energy in a reaction is given below:
Activation Energy and Enthalpy of Chemical Reaction
The rate constant k is affected by the temperature and this dependence may be represented by the Arrhenius equation:             -Ea/RT
k = A e where the pre-exponential factor A is assumed to be independent of temperature, R is the gas constant, and T the temperature in K. Taking the natural logarithm of this equation gives: ln k = ln A - Ea/(RT) or ln k = -Ea/(RT) + constant or ln k = -(Ea/R)(1/T) + constant These equations indicate that the plot of ln k vs. 1/T is a straight line, with a slope of -Ea/R. These equations provide the basis for the experimental determination of Ea.

Example 1

The reaction constants k determined at 298 K and 350 K are 0.00123 /(M s) and 0.0394 /(M s) respectively.
(a) Calculate Ea.
(b) What is the rate constant at 308 K?

Solution
Let k1 and k2 be the rate constants determined at T1 and T2, respectively. Then you have two equations: 

     ln k1 = lnA - Ea/(R T1)

     ln k2 = lnA - Ea/(R T2)
From these, you should be able to derive the following relationships, 

        k2       Ea  / 1     1  \
    ln ---- = - --- | --- - --- |
        k1       R   \ T2    T1 /
(a) Further, you should give 
           T1 T2 R    k2
     Ea = -------- ln --
           T2 - T1    k1

          (350 K)(298 K) 8.314 J/(K mol)     0.0394
        = ------------------------------- ln -------
                   (350 - 298) k             0.00123

        = 57811 J/mol

        = 57.8 kJ/mol
It is a good idea to manipulate the formula with symbols until you have obtained the desirable form before you substitute numerical values into it. The necessary units are included here to show you the derivation of units for Ea.

(b) To calculate k at 308 K, 


                           57811
     ln k = ln (0.00123) - ----- (1/308 - 1/298)
                           8.314

          = -6.70 + 0.758
          = -5.94

     k = 0.00263

Discussion
An increase of 10 k doubles the rate constant in this case.

If Ea is positive, increasing temperature always leads to an increase in the rate constant.

Example 2

For a particular reaction the rate constant doubles when the temperature is raised by 10 K from 300 K. Calculate the activation energy.

Solution
The statement of the problem is equivalent to the condition given:
k310 = 2 k300

or k1 = 2 k0, then using the same equation as you have used in the previous example, you have 

           T1 T0 R    k0
     Ea = -------- ln --
           T0 - T1    k1


           310  300 R      k0
     Ea = ------------ ln ----
           300 - 310      2 k0

           93000 k 8.314 (J / (mol K)
        = --------------------------- ln (0.5)
                    - 10

        = 53594 J / mol

        = 53.6 kJ / mol

Discussion
This question is intended to show the general magnitude of Ea for the rule of thumb: For every 10 K increase in temperature, the reaction rate doubles.

Professor Frank L. Lambert of Occidental College has given an interesting view of the chemical ideas related to activation energy in his website about second law of thermodynamics.

Arhenius Parameters for Some Reactions:

Not all chemical reactions agrees with the Arhenius model in terms of temperature dependence, but the following reactions are known to agree well with the Arhenius equation. Parameters in the Arhenius equation for these reactions have been determined. (Note that 3e11 means 3x1011)

First order gas phase reactions:

N2O -> N2 + O;     A = 8e11,     Ea = 251 kJ/mol
N2O5 -> 2 NO + O2;     A = 6e14,     Ea = 88 kJ/mol Second order gas phase reactions: N2 + O -> N + NO;     A = 1e11,     Ea = 315 kJ/mol
OH + H2 -> 2 H2O + H;     A = 1e11,     Ea = 42 kJ/mol Second order reactions in aqueous solution: CO2 + OH- -> HCO3;     A = 1e11,     Ea = 315 kJ/mol

Internet Resources

Reaction Kinetics

Confidence Building Questions

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