REACTION MECHANISMS AND CATALYSTS 6.4

Reaction Mechanisms and Catalysts  Reaction Mechanism: series of steps that make up an overall reaction.  Elementary Reaction: each step of a reaction involving a single molecular event.  May involve the formation of different molecules or ions  May involve the formation of different molecules or ions, or may involve a change in the energy or geometry of starting molecules.  Cannot be broken down into further, simpler steps.

Example Reaction intermediates: molecules, atoms, or ions that are formed in an elementary reaction and consumed in a subsequent elementary reactions.  Essential for a reaction to happen.

 Molecularity: refers to number of reactant particles involved in an elementary reaction.  Bimolecular: when two particles collide and react.  Unimolecular: one molecule reacts  Termolecular: involves three molecules.

Rate Law Equations for Elementary Reactions  For elementary reactions, the exponents in the rate law equation are the same as the stoichiometric coefficients for each reactant in the chemical equation.

Proposing and Evaluating Mechanisms  When chemists propose a mechanism, they must satisfy the following criteria:  The equation for the elementary steps must combine to give the equation for the overall reaction  The proposed elementary steps must be reasonable  The mechanism must support the experimentally determined rate law.

Rate-Determining Steps  Elementary reactions in mechanisms all have different rates.  Rate-determining step: slowest elementary reaction.  This reaction is what the rate of the overall reaction depends on.

Rate-Determining Step and the Rate law Example: The rate law will depend on the rate-determining reaction.

Seatwork/Homework PPs 301, #17-20

Catalysts  A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed by the reaction.  Works by lowering the activation energy by providing an alternative mechanism for the reaction.

 Both steps are faster than the original, uncatalyzed reaction.  The chemical species A-catalyst is a reaction intermediate.  It is produced in step 1 but consumed in step 2.  The catalyst is regenerated in the reaction. It appears as a reactant in step 1 and as a product in step 2.  Although the catalyst changes during the overall reaction, it is regenerated and unchanged at the end of the overall reaction.

 Example:  Reaction of sodium potassium tartrate with H2O2, catalyzed by cobaltous chloride.  CoCl2 is pink in solution.  Contents of beaker turn dark greed, suggesting the formation of a reaction intermediate.  CoCl2 is regenerated when the reaction is over.

Homogeneous Catalysts  Exists in the same phase as the reactante.  Usually catalyze gaseous and aqueous reactions.

Heterogeneous Catalysts  Exist in a phase different from the phase of the reaction.  Example: addition of hydrogen to an organic compound that contains C=C bonds: ___________.  Without a catalyst, the reaction is very slow.  Ethylene and hydrogen molecules form bonds with the metal surface. This weakens the bonds of the hydrogen and ethylene  The H-H bonds of the hydrogen molecules break and are somewhat stabilized because of their attraction to the metal.  Hydrogen atoms react with ethylene, forming ethane.

Biological Catalysts  Enzymes.  Review: active site/substrate.  Works by stabilizing the reactions transition state.  2 models to explain how enzymes work:  Lock and key: enzyme is the ‘lock’ and its substrate is the key Shape on the active site exactly fits the shape of the substrate.  Induced fit model Active site on enzyme changes its shape to fit its substrate.

“Canadians in Chemistry”  Read page ) Where did Dr. Menten receive her medical degree? 2) Which enzyme did she study? What did it catalyze? 3) Briefly describe her contribution to the understanding of the enzyme. 4) Which important equation did she come up with? Why was it so important?

Seatwork/Homework  Section Review, Page 309, #1-9  Chapter 6 Review, Page 311, #2 – 8, 11-19, 2-23.