Rate of reaction and coefficient of the reactan

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relationship between the concentration of reactants and the rate of chemical reactions, specifically focusing on the reaction order and how it relates to the coefficients in the balanced chemical equations. Participants explore the implications of reaction order, the role of coefficients, and seek intuitive explanations for observed behaviors in reaction rates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that doubling the concentration of NO leads to a fourfold increase in reaction rate, suggesting a second-order reaction, but expresses confusion about the underlying reasons.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of experimentally determining the reaction order before making conclusions about the relationship between concentration and rate.
  • There is a discussion about whether the order of reaction is equal to the coefficients in elementary reactions, with some participants affirming this relationship.
  • A participant questions why the number of moles in a balanced equation affects the proportionality in the rate equation, providing examples of different reactions with varying outcomes when concentrations are doubled.
  • One participant attempts to provide intuition by explaining that reactions occur through molecular collisions, where the frequency of collisions is proportional to the concentration of reactants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between reaction order and coefficients, with some affirming that they are equal in elementary reactions while others seek further clarification. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the intuitive understanding of why reaction rates behave as they do when concentrations are altered.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the order of reaction is defined based on experimental observations, and there is an emphasis on the need for clarity regarding the implications of coefficients in rate equations. Some assumptions about the nature of the reactions (e.g., whether they are elementary) are not fully explored.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and educators in chemistry, particularly those interested in reaction kinetics and the conceptual understanding of reaction rates and orders.

Entanglement
Messages
438
Reaction score
13
Suppose in the reaction 2 NO + O2 --------> 2NO2

Why when the the concentration of NO is doubled, the rate increases 4 times, I know that the rate is directly proportional to the square of NO concentration (I don't know why) and it's order of reaction is 2 ( I don't why ). but I still can't understand a reason for all of that it seems foggy to me why the coefficient affects the proportionality. It should be intuitive to a chemistry student, I think a simple analogy would be helpful, thanks
 
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ElmorshedyDr said:
Why when the the concentration of NO is doubled, the rate increases 4 times, I know that the rate is directly proportional to the square of NO concentration (I don't know why) and it's order of reaction is 2 ( I don't why )

While everything you wrote is correct, it is the wrong way around.

First, we should check what is the reaction order - and the only sure way of doing it is an experiment. Once we know order is 2 everything else follows as a series of conclusions.
 
Borek said:
While everything you wrote is correct, it is the wrong way around.
First, we should check what is the reaction order - and the only sure way of doing it is an experiment. Once we know order is 2 everything else follows as a series of conclusions.
But in elementary reactions, the order is equal to the coefficient, isn't that true and why ?
 
ElmorshedyDr said:
But in elementary reactions, the order is equal to the coefficient, isn't that true and why ?

Yes it is true - because we defined it this way. Order of the reaction equals sum of the coefficients from the elementary reaction equation.
 
Borek said:
Yes it is true - because we defined it this way. Order of the reaction equals sum of the coefficients from the elementary reaction equation.
You really misunderstand me, I know because it's defined like that, I mean why does the number of moles in a balanced question affects the proportionality in the rate equation for an example 2NO + O2 ------> 2NO2 , I2 + H2 -----> 2HI

Supposing that they are elementary reactions
Why in the first equation on doubling the conc of NO the rate increases 4 times but on doubling I2 it increases only 2 times

I already know the conception of the order of reaction and this stuff

but I want an analogy that really clarifies it, or a detailed easy explanation that make it clear and intuitive to a high school student.
 
Last edited:
If you are looking for intuition - reactions occur when the molecules collide, the more molecules, the more frequent the collisions. Number of collisions for a given kind of a molecule is proportional to its number (or concentration).
 

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