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Grade 11Physical Chemistry

the rate of appearance of no2 for the following reaction n2o2=2no2 when initial pressure of n2o4 is reduced from .5 to .25 atm in 5 minutes is
a.0.1 b. 0.2 c. 0.25 d.0.3

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8 Years agoGrade 11
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1 Answer

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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer1 Year ago

To determine the rate of appearance of NO2 in the reaction N2O4 ⇌ 2NO2 when the initial pressure of N2O4 is reduced from 0.5 atm to 0.25 atm over a period of 5 minutes, we can follow a systematic approach. This involves understanding the stoichiometry of the reaction and how changes in pressure relate to the concentrations of the reactants and products.

Understanding the Reaction

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:

  • N2O4 ⇌ 2NO2

This indicates that one mole of N2O4 produces two moles of NO2. Therefore, any change in the amount of N2O4 will directly affect the amount of NO2 produced.

Calculating the Change in Pressure

Initially, the pressure of N2O4 is 0.5 atm. After 5 minutes, it is reduced to 0.25 atm. The change in pressure can be calculated as follows:

  • Initial pressure of N2O4 = 0.5 atm
  • Final pressure of N2O4 = 0.25 atm
  • Change in pressure = Initial pressure - Final pressure = 0.5 atm - 0.25 atm = 0.25 atm

Relating Pressure Change to NO2 Production

According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, for every 1 mole of N2O4 that reacts, 2 moles of NO2 are produced. Therefore, the change in pressure of N2O4 will result in a corresponding change in the pressure of NO2:

  • Change in pressure of N2O4 = 0.25 atm
  • Change in pressure of NO2 = 2 × Change in pressure of N2O4 = 2 × 0.25 atm = 0.5 atm

Calculating the Rate of Appearance of NO2

The rate of appearance of NO2 can be calculated by dividing the change in pressure of NO2 by the time period over which the change occurred:

  • Rate of appearance of NO2 = Change in pressure of NO2 / Time
  • Rate of appearance of NO2 = 0.5 atm / 5 minutes = 0.1 atm/min

Final Answer

Based on the calculations, the rate of appearance of NO2 is 0.1 atm/min. Therefore, the correct answer is a. 0.1.