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Energy Diagrams, Catalysts & Reaction Mechanisms Video Lecture | Physical Chemistry

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FAQs on Energy Diagrams, Catalysts & Reaction Mechanisms Video Lecture - Physical Chemistry

1. What is an energy diagram in the context of chemical reactions?
Ans. An energy diagram, also known as a reaction energy profile, is a graphical representation of the energy changes that occur during a chemical reaction. It shows the energy of the reactants, the energy of the products, and the energy of the transition states or intermediates involved in the reaction.
2. What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
Ans. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. It does not get consumed or permanently altered during the reaction and can be reused. Catalysts provide an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, allowing the reaction to proceed faster.
3. How does a catalyst affect the energy diagram of a reaction?
Ans. A catalyst affects the energy diagram of a reaction by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. This leads to a lower energy barrier that needs to be overcome for the reaction to proceed. As a result, the energy diagram with a catalyst will show a lower peak for the activation energy compared to the energy diagram without a catalyst.
4. What is a reaction mechanism?
Ans. A reaction mechanism is a step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions that explains how a chemical reaction occurs at the molecular level. It describes the order in which bonds are broken and formed, the intermediates formed during the reaction, and the overall stoichiometry of the reaction. Reaction mechanisms help us understand the detailed pathway of a reaction and provide insights into the rate-determining steps.
5. How can reaction mechanisms be determined experimentally?
Ans. Reaction mechanisms can be determined experimentally through various techniques. One common approach is to study the reaction kinetics by measuring the rate of the reaction under different conditions (e.g., temperature, concentration, pressure). By analyzing the rate data, scientists can propose possible reaction mechanisms. Other methods include spectroscopic techniques (e.g., infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance) to identify and study reaction intermediates, as well as isotopic labeling experiments to probe specific steps in the mechanism.
83 videos|142 docs|67 tests
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