Final answer:
At time zero, both the pressure and volume of oxygen should be zero since the decomposition has not started. Plots of pressure and volume versus time are expected to pass through the origin, reflecting no oxygen production at the beginning of the reaction. This is consistent with the understanding that before the reaction commences, there is no product and thus pressure or volume of oxygen generated is zero.
Step-by-step explanation:
For an experimental study of the kinetics of hydrogen peroxide decomposition, different methods can be used to monitor reaction progress. The study involves measuring the concentration of hydrogen peroxide at various time intervals.
a. If the pressure of oxygen is monitored as a function of time, the pressure of oxygen collected at time zero should be zero since no oxygen has been produced by the decomposition reaction at the start.
b. Yes, you would expect your plot of pressure versus time to pass through the origin because at time zero, no reaction has occurred and thus no oxygen has been produced, indicating zero pressure.
c. If the volume of oxygen is monitored, the volume of oxygen collected at time zero should also be zero for the same reason that no oxygen has been produced yet.
d. Similarly, the plot of volume versus time is also expected to pass through the origin, indicating that at the beginning of the reaction, no oxygen has been generated and thus the volume is zero.
e. The reasoning for expecting plots to pass through the origin in both approaches is based on the principle that before the reaction starts, there is no product formed. When the decomposition begins, hydrogen peroxide starts breaking down to form water and oxygen. As the reaction proceeds, oxygen is produced, increasing the pressure and volume incrementally from zero. The rate of decomposition of H₂O₂ is typically expressed by the change in concentration over time, and a first-order reaction is suggested by a linear relationship between In[H₂O₂] and time, as visible in plots that show the natural logarithm of hydrogen peroxide concentration decreases linearly over time.