Rate constant collision theory

Derive an expression for the activation energy for the collision theory rate constant (i.e., Acoil of Eq. 10.76). Derive a similar expression for the activation energy for the unimolec-ular excitation reaction predicted by Hinshelwood theory (i.e., ke(e ) of Eq. 10.132). The activation energy is predicted to be larger for which theory ... 

Using the appropriate collision-theory rate constant, determine the effective collision diameter for this reaction based on the data above. Is this quantity a function of temperature ... 

Compare the collision theory rate with the database value and calculate the steric factor, that is, the ratio between the measured rate constant and the rate constant estimated from collision theory. 

A general expression taking into account the rotational energy was derived from RRKM theory.29 If the intermediate C is sufficiently short-lived (or the total pressure is sufficiently low) that it is not stabilized by collisions, the rate constant k for the formation of the product(s) can be written as... 

Expression (67.Ill) can be considered as a "statistical formulation of the rate constant in that it represents a formal generalization of activated complex theory which is the usual form of the statistical theory of reaction rates. Actually, this expression is an exact collision theory rate equation, since it was derived from the basic equations (32.Ill) and (41. HI) without any approximations. Indeed, the notion of the activated complex has been introduced here only in a quite formal way, using equations (60.Ill) and (61.Ill) as a definition, which has permitted a change of variables only in order to make a pure mathematical transformation. Therefore, in all cases in which the activated complex could be defined as a virtual transition state in terms of a potential energy surface, the formula (67.HI) may be used as a rate equation equivalent to the collision theory expression (51.III). 

The equation (79.Ill)is the complete classical (semiclassical) analogue to the quantum-mechanical "statistical" formulation (67.111) of the rate constant. It represents actually an exact classical (semiclassical) expression, which is equivalent to the corresponding collision theory rate equation (70,111). 

Hase, W. L. and D. M. Wardlaw (1989). Transition state theory rate constants for association reactions without potential energy barriers. In Bimolecular Collisions, M. N. R. Ashfold and J. E. Baggott (eds.). London, Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 171. 

Simple collision theories neglect the internal quantum state dependence of a. The rate constant as a function of temperature T results as a thennal average over the Maxwell-Boltzmaim velocity distribution p Ef. 

Gilbert R G, Luther K and Troe J 1983 Theory of thermal unimolecular reactions in the fall-off range. II. Weak collision rate constants Ber. Bunsenges. Phys. Chem. 87 169-77... 

Troe J 1977 Theory of thermal unimolecular reactions at low pressures. II. Strong collision rate constants. Applications J. Chem. Phys. 66 4758... 

Collision theory leads to this equation for the rate constant k = A exp (-EIRT) = A T exp (,—EIRT). Show how the energy E is related to the Arrhenius activation energy E (presuming the Arrhenius preexponential factor is temperature independent). 

Table 11.3 compares observed rate constants for several reactions with those predicted by collision theory, arbitrarily taking p = 1. As you might expect, the calculated k s are too high, suggesting that the steric factor is indeed less than 1. 

We have deduced that, according to collision theory, the rate constant is... 

Now that we have a model, we must check its consistency with various experiments. Sometimes such inconsistencies result in the complete rejection of a model. More often, they indicate that we need to refine the model. In the present case, the results of careful experiments show that the collision model of reactions is not complete, because the experimental rate constant is normally smaller than predicted by collision theory. We can improve the model by realizing that the relative direction in which the molecules are moving when they collide also might matter. That is, they need to be oriented a certain way relative to each other. For example, the results of experiments of the kind described in Box 13.2 have shown that, in the gas-phase reaction of chlorine atoms with HI molecules, HI + Cl — HC1 I, the Cl atom reacts with the HI molecule only if it approaches from a favorable direction (Fig. 13.28). A dependence on direction is called the steric requirement of the reaction. It is normally taken into account by introducing an empirical factor, P, called the steric factor, and changing Eq. 17 to... 

As in collision theory, the rate of the reaction depends on the rate at which reactants can climb to the top of the barrier and form the activated complex. The resulting expression for the rate constant is very similar to the one given in Eq. 15, and so this more general theory also accounts for the form of the Arrhenius equation and the observed dependence of the reaction rate on temperature. 

Previous theoretical kinetic treatments of the formation of secondary, tertiary and higher order ions in the ionization chamber of a conventional mass spectrometer operating at high pressure, have used either a steady state treatment (2, 24) or an ion-beam approach (43). These theories are essentially phenomenological, and they make no clear assumptions about the nature of the reactive collision. The model outlined below is a microscopic one, making definite assumptions about the kinematics of the reactive collision. If the rate constants of the reactions are fixed, the nature of these assumptions definitely affects the amount of reaction occurring. 

Some of the rate constants discussed above are summarized in Table VI. The uncertainties (often very large) in these rate constants have already been indicated. Most of the rate constants have preexponential factors somewhat greater than the corresponding factors for neutral species reactions, which agrees with theory. At 2000°K. for two molecules each of mass 20 atomic units and a collision cross-section of 15 A2, simple bimolecular collision theory gives a pre-exponential factor of 3 X 10-10 cm.3 molecule-1 sec.-1... 

The case of m = Q corresponds to classical Arrhenius theory m = 1/2 is derived from the collision theory of bimolecular gas-phase reactions and m = corresponds to activated complex or transition state theory. None of these theories is sufficiently well developed to predict reaction rates from first principles, and it is practically impossible to choose between them based on experimental measurements. The relatively small variation in rate constant due to the pre-exponential temperature dependence T is overwhelmed by the exponential dependence exp(—Tarf/T). For many reactions, a plot of In(fe) versus will be approximately linear, and the slope of this line can be used to calculate E. Plots of rt(k/T" ) versus 7 for the same reactions will also be approximately linear as well, which shows the futility of determining m by this approach. 

Although collision theory provides a useful formalism to estimate an upper limit for the rate of reaction, it possesses the great disadvantage that it is not capable of describing the free energy changes of a reaction event, since it only deals with the individual molecules and does not take the ensemble into consideration. As such, the theory is essentially in conflict with thermodynamics. This becomes immediately apparent if we derive equilibrium constants on the basis of collision theory. Consider the equilibrium... 

The pre-exponential factor for the H -i- H2 reaction has been determined to be approximately 2.3 x lO " mol cm s . Taking the molecular radii for H2 and H to be 0.27 and 0.20 nm, respectively, calculate the value of the probability factor P necessary for agreement between the observed rate constant and that calculated from collision theory at 300 K. 

A pre-exponential factor and activation energy for each rate constant must be established. All forward rate constants involving alkyne adsorption (ki, k2, and ks) are assumed to have equal pre-exponential factors specified by the collision limit (assuming a sticking coefficient of one). All adsorption steps are assumed to be non-activated. Both desorption constants (k.i and k ) are assumed to have preexponential factors equal to 10 3 sec, as expected from transition-state theory [28]. Both desorption activation energies (26.1 kcal/mol for methyl acetylene and 25.3 kcal/mol for trimethylbenzene) were derived from TPD results [1]. 

In this equation it is the reaction rate constant, k, which is independent of concentration, that is affected by the temperature the concentration-dependent terms, J[c), usually remain unchanged at different temperatures. The relationship between the rate constant of a reaction and the absolute temperature can be described essentially by three equations. These are the Arrhenius equation, the collision theory equation, and the absolute reaction rate theory equation. This presentation will concern itself only with the first. 

Because T -> V energy transfer does not lead to complex formation and complexes are only formed by unoriented collisions, the Cl" + CH3C1 -4 Cl"—CH3C1 association rate constant calculated from the trajectories is less than that given by an ion-molecule capture model. This is shown in Table 8, where the trajectory association rate constant is compared with the predictions of various capture models.9 The microcanonical variational transition state theory (pCVTST) rate constants calculated for PES1, with the transitional modes treated as harmonic oscillators (ho) are nearly the same as the statistical adiabatic channel model (SACM),13 pCVTST,40 and trajectory capture14 rate constants based on the ion-di-pole/ion-induced dipole potential,... 

The reactions of the bare sodium ion with all neutrals were determined to proceed via a three-body association mechanism and the rate constants measured cover a large range from a slow association reaction with NH3 to a near-collision rate with CH3OC2H4OCH3 (DMOE). The lifetimes of the intermediate complexes obtained using parameterized trajectory results and the experimental rates compare fairly well with predictions based on RRKM theory. The calculations also accounted for the large isotope effect observed for the more rapid clustering of ND3 than NH3 to Na+. 

Comparison of this equation with the Arrhenius form of the reaction rate constant reveals a slight difference in the temperature dependences of the rate constant, and this fact must be explained if one is to have faith in the consistency of the collision theory. Taking the derivative of the natural logarithm of the rate constant in equation 4.3.7 with respect to temperature, one finds that... 

Consideration of a variety of other systems leads to the conclusion that very rarely does the collision theory predict rate( constants that will be comparable in magnitude to experimental values. Although it is not adequate for predictions of reaction rate constants, it nonetheless provides a convenient physical picture of the reaction act and a useful interpretation of the concept of activation energy. The major short-... 

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