Question

How will the RR of a catalyzed reaction be affected if the solid catalyst is finely ground before it is added to the reaction mixture?

a. Increase
b. Decrease
c. Remain unchanged
d. Oscillate

Answer 1

option a,Grinding a solid catalyst increases its surface area, leading to an increased rate of reaction due to more active sites for reactant molecules to interact.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a solid catalyst is finely ground before being added to a reaction mixture, the rate of reaction (RR) is likely to increase. This happens because grinding the catalyst increases its surface area which in turn provides more active sites for the reactant molecules to collide with. More collisions generally mean a higher chance of successful collisions, which increases the reaction rate.

For instance, in the provided reaction (2SO2(g) + O2(g) = 2SO3(g)), using a finely ground catalyst would facilitate more frequent interactions between sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2) molecules, thereby accelerating the production of sulfur trioxide (SO3). The effectiveness of any catalyst is strongly dependent on its ability to provide a surface for the reactants to interact, and increased surface area from grinding enhances this property.