Chemical reaction equilibrium/kinetic

When the kinetics are unknown, still-useful information can be obtained by finding equilibrium compositions at fixed temperature or adiabatically, or at some specified approach to the adiabatic temperature, say within 25°C (45°F) of it. Such calculations require only an input of the components of the feed and produc ts and their thermodynamic properties, not their stoichiometric relations, and are based on Gibbs energy minimization. Computer programs appear, for instance, in Smith and Missen Chemical Reaction Equilibrium Analysis Theory and Algorithms, Wiley, 1982), but the problem often is laborious enough to warrant use of one of the several available commercial services and their data banks. Several simpler cases with specified stoichiometries are solved by Walas Phase Equilibiia in Chemical Engineering, Butterworths, 1985). 

The development of theoretical chemistry ceased at about 1930. The last significant contributions came from the first of the modern theoretical physicists, who have long since lost interest in the subject. It is not uncommon today, to hear prominent chemists explain how chemistry is an experimental science, adequately practiced without any need of quantum mechanics or the theories of relativity. Chemical thermodynamics is routinely rehashed in the terminology and concepts of the late nineteenth century. The formulation of chemical reaction and kinetic theories take scant account of statistical mechanics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Theories of molecular structure are entirely classical and molecular cohesion is commonly analyzed in terms of isolated bonds. Holistic effects and emergent properties that could... 

Summary We ve been discussing chemical reactions for several chapters. In the Kinetics chapter you saw how chemical reactions take place and some of the factors that affect the reaction s speed. In this chapter we will discuss another aspect of chemical reactions equilibrium. 

MODELING CHEMICAL REACTIONS EQUILIBRIUM VERSUS KINETIC APPROACHES... 

At kinetically controlled reactive conditions (Da = 1), Fig. 4.28(b) shows that the stable node moves into the composition triangle, as in reactive distillation (Fig. 4.27(b)). This point is termed the kinetic arheotrope because its location in the phase diagram depends on the membrane mass transfer resistances and also on the rate of chemical reaction. The kinetic arheotrope moves towards the B vertex with increasing C-selectivity of the membrane. At infinite Damkohler number, the system is chemical equilibrium-controlled (Fig. 4.28(c)), and therefore the arheotrope is located exactly on the chemical equilibrium curve. In this limiting case, it is called a reactive arheotrope . 

Several basic principles tliat engineers and scientists employ in performing design calculations and predicting Uie performance of plant equipment includes Uiemiochemistry. chemical reaction equilibrium, chemical kinetics, Uie ideal gas law, partial pressure, pliase equilibrium, and Uie Reynolds Number. 

This chapter shows how to solve problems involving chemical reaction equihbrium. The chemical reaction equilibrium gives the upper limit for the conversion, so knowing the equilibrium conversion is the first step in analyzing a process. The second question, what the rate of reaction is, can then be answered to decide the volume of the reactor. This second question, using kinetics, is treated in Chapter 8. Chemical reaction equilibrium leads to one or more nonlinear algebraic equations which must be solved simultaneously, and such problems are described in this chapter. 

The particulate nature of matter is fundamental to almost every topic in chemistry. It involves the particle theory (often now called the kinetic molecular theory), which is the basis of explanations of atomic structure, bonding, molecules, much of solution chemistry and chemical reactions, equilibrium and chemical energetics. Because bonding (which involves atomic structure) and chemical reactions are covered in other chapters in this book, this chapter restricts itself to the particle theory of matter. Where useful, interesting aspects outside the particle theory are mentioned but the focus is fixed on the notion that all matter is composed of discrete, energetic particles that are separated by space. 

In reactive distillation, chemical reactions are assumed to occur mainly in the liquid phase. Hence the liquid holdup on the trays, or the residence time, is an important design factor for these processes. Other column design considerations, such as number of trays or feed and product tray locations, can be of particular importance in reactive distillation columns. Moreover, because chemical reactions can be exothermic or endothermic, intercoolers or heaters may be required to maintain optimum stage temperatures. Column models of reactive distillation must include chemical reaction equilibrium or kinetic equations along with the material and energy balance equations and the phase equilibrium relations. These models and methods for solving them are discussed in Chapter 13. 

Flere, we shall concentrate on basic approaches which lie at the foundations of the most widely used models. Simplified collision theories for bimolecular reactions are frequently used for the interpretation of experimental gas-phase kinetic data. The general transition state theory of elementary reactions fomis the starting point of many more elaborate versions of quasi-equilibrium theories of chemical reaction kinetics [27, M, 37 and 38]. 

General first-order kinetics also play an important role for the so-called local eigenvalue analysis of more complicated reaction mechanisms, which are usually described by nonlinear systems of differential equations. Linearization leads to effective general first-order kinetics whose analysis reveals infomiation on the time scales of chemical reactions, species in steady states (quasi-stationarity), or partial equilibria (quasi-equilibrium) [M, and ]. 

Electrode processes are a class of heterogeneous chemical reaction that involves the transfer of charge across the interface between a solid and an adjacent solution phase, either in equilibrium or under partial or total kinetic control. A simple type of electrode reaction involves electron transfer between an inert metal electrode and an ion or molecule in solution. Oxidation of an electroactive species corresponds to the transfer of electrons from the solution phase to the electrode (anodic), whereas electron transfer in the opposite direction results in the reduction of the species (cathodic). Electron transfer is only possible when the electroactive material is within molecular distances of the electrode surface thus for a simple electrode reaction involving solution species of the fonn... 

Perturbation or relaxation techniques are applied to chemical reaction systems with a well-defined equilibrium. An instantaneous change of one or several state fiinctions causes the system to relax into its new equilibrium [29]. In gas-phase kmetics, the perturbations typically exploit the temperature (r-jump) and pressure (P-jump) dependence of chemical equilibria [6]. The relaxation kinetics are monitored by spectroscopic methods. 

Modelling plasma chemical systems is a complex task, because these system are far from thennodynamical equilibrium. A complete model includes the external electric circuit, the various physical volume and surface reactions, the space charges and the internal electric fields, the electron kinetics, the homogeneous chemical reactions in the plasma volume as well as the heterogeneous reactions at the walls or electrodes. These reactions are initiated primarily by the electrons. In most cases, plasma chemical reactors work with a flowing gas so that the flow conditions, laminar or turbulent, must be taken into account. As discussed before, the electron gas is not in thennodynamic equilibrium... 

Transient, or time-resolved, techniques measure tire response of a substance after a rapid perturbation. A swift kick can be provided by any means tliat suddenly moves tire system away from equilibrium—a change in reactant concentration, for instance, or tire photodissociation of a chemical bond. Kinetic properties such as rate constants and amplitudes of chemical reactions or transfonnations of physical state taking place in a material are tlien detennined by measuring tire time course of relaxation to some, possibly new, equilibrium state. Detennining how tire kinetic rate constants vary witli temperature can further yield infonnation about tire tliennodynamic properties (activation entlialpies and entropies) of transition states, tire exceedingly ephemeral species tliat he between reactants, intennediates and products in a chemical reaction. 

How does one monitor a chemical reaction tliat occurs on a time scale faster tlian milliseconds The two approaches introduced above, relaxation spectroscopy and flash photolysis, are typically used for fast kinetic studies. Relaxation metliods may be applied to reactions in which finite amounts of botli reactants and products are present at final equilibrium. The time course of relaxation is monitored after application of a rapid perturbation to tire equilibrium mixture. An important feature of relaxation approaches to kinetic studies is that tire changes are always observed as first order kinetics (as long as tire perturbation is relatively small). This linearization of tire observed kinetics means... 

Finally, a consideration of equilibrium chemistry can only help us decide what reactions are favorable. Knowing that a reaction is favorable does not guarantee that the reaction will occur. How fast a reaction approaches its equilibrium position does not depend on the magnitude of the equilibrium constant. The rate of a chemical reaction is a kinetic, not a thermodynamic, phenomenon. Kinetic effects and their application in analytical chemistry are discussed in Chapter 13. 

There are many potential advantages to kinetic methods of analysis, perhaps the most important of which is the ability to use chemical reactions that are slow to reach equilibrium. In this chapter we examine three techniques that rely on measurements made while the analytical system is under kinetic rather than thermodynamic control chemical kinetic techniques, in which the rate of a chemical reaction is measured radiochemical techniques, in which a radioactive element s rate of nuclear decay is measured and flow injection analysis, in which the analyte is injected into a continuously flowing carrier stream, where its mixing and reaction with reagents in the stream are controlled by the kinetic processes of convection and diffusion. 

Every chemical reaction occurs at a finite rate and, therefore, can potentially serve as the basis for a chemical kinetic method of analysis. To be effective, however, the chemical reaction must meet three conditions. First, the rate of the chemical reaction must be fast enough that the analysis can be conducted in a reasonable time, but slow enough that the reaction does not approach its equilibrium position while the reagents are mixing. As a practical limit, reactions reaching equilibrium within 1 s are not easily studied without the aid of specialized equipment allowing for the rapid mixing of reactants. 

Influence of Chemical Reactions on Uq and When a chemical reaction occurs, the transfer rate may be influenced by the chemical reac tion as well as by the purely physical processes of diffusion and convection within the two phases. Since this situation is common in gas absorption, gas absorption will be the focus of this discussion. One must consider the impacts of chemical equilibrium and reac tion kinetics on the absorption rate in addition to accounting for the effec ts of gas solubility, diffusivity, and system hydrodynamics. 

A more general, and for the moment, less detailed description of the progress of chemical reactions, was developed in the transition state theory of kinetics. This approach considers tire reacting molecules at the point of collision to form a complex intermediate molecule before the final products are formed. This molecular species is assumed to be in thermodynamic equilibrium with the reactant species. An equilibrium constant can therefore be described for the activation process, and this, in turn, can be related to a Gibbs energy of activation ... 

Some chemical reactions are reversible and, no matter how fast a reaction takes place, it cannot proceed beyond the point of chemical equilibrium in the reaction mixture at the specified temperature and pressure. Thus, for any given conditions, the principle of chemical equilibrium expressed as the equilibrium constant, K, determines how far the reaction can proceed if adequate time is allowed for equilibrium to be attained. Alternatively, the principle of chemical kinetics determines at what rate the reaction will proceed towards attaining the maximum. If the equilibrium constant K is very large, for all practical purposes the reaction is irreversible. In the case where a reaction is irreversible, it is unnecessary to calculate the equilibrium constant and check the position of equilibrium when high conversions are needed. 

Both the principles of chemical reaction kinetics and thermodynamic equilibrium are considered in choosing process conditions. Any complete rate equation for a reversible reaction involves the equilibrium constant, but quite often, complete rate equations are not readily available to the engineer. Thus, the engineer first must determine the temperature range in which the chemical reaction will proceed at a... 

Chemical reactions obey the rules of chemical kinetics (see Chapter 2) and chemical thermodynamics, if they occur slowly and do not exhibit a significant heat of reaction in the homogeneous system (microkinetics). Thermodynamics, as reviewed in Chapter 3, has an essential role in the scale-up of reactors. It shows the form that rate equations must take in the limiting case where a reaction has attained equilibrium. Consistency is required thermodynamically before a rate equation achieves success over tlie entire range of conversion. Generally, chemical reactions do not depend on the theory of similarity rules. However, most industrial reactions occur under heterogeneous systems (e.g., liquid/solid, gas/solid, liquid/gas, and liquid/liquid), thereby generating enormous heat of reaction. Therefore, mass and heat transfer processes (macrokinetics) that are scale-dependent often accompany the chemical reaction. The path of such chemical reactions will be... 

Chemistry can be divided (somewhat arbitrarily) into the study of structures, equilibria, and rates. Chemical structure is ultimately described by the methods of quantum mechanics equilibrium phenomena are studied by statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and the study of rates constitutes the subject of kinetics. Kinetics can be subdivided into physical kinetics, dealing with physical phenomena such as diffusion and viscosity, and chemical kinetics, which deals with the rates of chemical reactions (including both covalent and noncovalent bond changes). Students of thermodynamics learn that quantities such as changes in enthalpy and entropy depend only upon the initial and hnal states of a system consequently thermodynamics cannot yield any information about intervening states of the system. It is precisely these intermediate states that constitute the subject matter of chemical kinetics. A thorough study of any chemical reaction must therefore include structural, equilibrium, and kinetic investigations. 

Chemical themiodynamics provides tlie answer to tlie first question however, it provides information about tlie second. Reaction rates fall witliin tlie domain of chemical kinetics and are treated later in tliis section. Both equilibrium and kinetic effects must be considered in an overall engineering analysis of a chemical reaction. 

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