AP Chemistry : Thermochemistry and Kinetics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Laws Of Thermodynamics

A chemistry student is trying to calculate how long it will take a power source of  to heat a  sample of ice from  to . Given that the specific heat capacity of ice is , the specific heat capacity of liquid water is , and the heat of fusion for water is , how long will this process take?

Possible Answers:

There is not enough information to determine the amount of time needed for the process described

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we'll need to break it up into steps.

 

Step 1: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to raise the sample of ice from  to . To do this, we'll need to use the following equation:

 

Step 2: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to convert the sample at  from ice to water. We'll need to make use of the following equation:

 

Step 3: Calculate the amount of energy necessary to convert the sample of water from  to .

 

Step 4: Sum the amount of energy from the previous 3 steps. This value is the total amount of energy for the entire process.

 

Step 5: Now that we know the total amount of energy needed for the process, we need to calculate the time based on the amount of power provided.

Example Question #101 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

The overall reaction can only proceed as quickly as the __________.

Possible Answers:

rate-determining step

intermediate is decomposed

catalyst is added

products are removed

Correct answer:

rate-determining step

Explanation:

The rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism is a kinetic bottleneck, in that it prevents the overall reaction from proceeding; thus, it is what determines how quickly the overall reaction can proceed.

Example Question #102 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

Which of the following does not affect a forward reaction rate?

Possible Answers:

Catalysts

Temperature

Medium

Product concentration

Correct answer:

Product concentration

Explanation:

Product concentration would not affect a forward reaction rate, since that is what is being formed. Catalysts specifically speed up reaction rates, as does temperature. Medium can also affect reaction rate because some molecules are more likely to react with each other in certain environments. 

Example Question #103 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

Which of the following is not true of the transition state?

Possible Answers:

It has a greater energy than the reactants

It cannot dissociate into products without needing any additional energy

Old bonds are weakened and new bonds begin to form

It has a greater energy than the products

Correct answer:

It cannot dissociate into products without needing any additional energy

Explanation:

The transition state is the energy barrier in a reaction—energy is needed to reach this state. Once it is acheived, however, it can either revert back to reactants or dissociate into products without any added energy. 

Example Question #104 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

Which of the following is true:

I. First order reactions proceed at a constant rate

II. First order reactions have a constant half-life

III. First order reactions have one reactant

Possible Answers:

II only

II and III

I, II, and III

I only

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

First order reactions have the rate equation . As the molarity of A decreases, the rate slows.

The half-life equation is . The half-life is constant with respect to time and concentration, depending only on the rate constant.

Lastly, the overall reaction can have any number of reactants. A reaction is first order because its rate-limiting step has only one reactant.

Only statement II is true.

Example Question #105 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

The following reversible reaction takes place in a closed container:

The system is allowed to reach equilibrium before 2 moles of reactant A are added to the container.

The net rate of formation of product B immediately following the addition of reactant A is __________.

Possible Answers:

impossible to determine without additional information

negative

zero

positive

Correct answer:

positive

Explanation:

According to Le Chatelier's principle, an increase in the concentration of reactants will cause the reaction to shift to the right in order to re-establish equilibrium. Thus, immediately after reactant A is added, the forward reaction will increase and the net rate of formation of the products will be positive. 

Example Question #106 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

Rate data is collected for a reaction, and the following integrated rate law is derived.

If this reaction is __________ with respect to reactant A, a plot of ln[A] versus time would be __________.

Possible Answers:

zero order . . . linear

first order . . . parabolic

first order . . . linear

second order . . . parabolic

Correct answer:

first order . . . linear

Explanation:

The integrated rate law shown is for a reaction rate law with a first-order dependence on reactact A. If such a rate law accurately describes the kinetics of the reaction, then ln[A] will vary linearly with respect to time. 

Example Question #107 : Thermochemistry And Kinetics

Which of the following affects the rate of a reaction?

Possible Answers:

Frequency of collision

All of these

Collision orientation

Molecules' energies

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

Since reactant molecules collide and interact to break old bond and form new ones, any factors affecting collision and interactions will affect the reaction rate. Thus, increasing temperature will increase both the frequency of collisions and the average kinetic energy of the molecules. Enzymes bring molecules close to each other and orient them in a way that facilitates reactions.

Example Question #1 : Integrated Rate Laws

The rate constant for a second-order reaction is 0.15 M-1s-1.  If the initial concentration of the reactant is 0.30 M, how long does it take for the concentration to decrease to 0.15 M?

Possible Answers:

253 second

22.2 seconds

88.8 seconds

11.1 seconds

44.4 second

Correct answer:

22.2 seconds

Explanation:

 

Example Question #2 : Integrated Rate Laws

02

Based on the figure above, what is the order of reaction?

Possible Answers:

Second Order

Third Order

First order

Squared Order

Zero Order

Correct answer:

First order

Explanation:

For a first order reaction, the ln [A]t is linear with t.

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