Question

The rate equation for the reaction 2N2O5 ⟶ 4NO2 + O2 can be expressed as:

a. Rate = k[N2O5]^2
b. Rate = k[N2O5]
c. Rate = k[NO2]^2
d. Rate = k[O2]

Answer 1

The rate equation for the given reaction is Rate = k[N2O5], which accounts for the stoichiometry and the disappearance of N2O5 during the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate equation for the decomposition of N2O5 to NO2 and O2 should reflect the stoichiometry of the reaction and the experimental determination of the order with respect to each reactant. In the balanced chemical equation 2N2O5 → 4NO2 + O2, the stoichiometric coefficients indicate that 2 moles of N2O5 decompose to produce 4 moles of NO2 and 1 mole of O2.

Therefore, the rate of the reaction can be expressed based on the rate of disappearance of N2O5, and since the rate of formation of a product such as NO2 is proportional to its stoichiometric coefficient, the rate law for this reaction is Rate = k[N2O5].