Energy-Barrier concept

According to the energy barrier concept shown in Figure 2-1, we would expect flie reaction rate to be proportional to F e > e ), i.e., to the fraction of molecules that have at least the minimum energy, e, required to cross flie energy barrier. 

Some fundamental structure-stability relationships can be employed to illustrate the use of resonance concepts. The allyl cation is known to be a particularly stable carbocation. This stability can be understood by recognizing that the positive charge is delocalized between two carbon atoms, as represented by the two equivalent resonance structures. The delocalization imposes a structural requirement. The p orbitals on the three contiguous carbon atoms must all be aligned in the same direction to permit electron delocalization. As a result, there is an energy barrier to rotation about the carbon-carbon... 

In Section 1.4 it was assumed that the rate equation for the h.e.r. involved a parameter, namely the transfer coefficient a, which was taken as approximately 0-5. However, in the previous consideration of the rate of a simple one-step electron-transfer process the concept of the symmetry factor /3 was introduced, and was used in place of a, and it was assumed that the energy barrier was almost symmetrical and that /3 0-5. Since this may lead to some confusion, an attempt will be made to clarify the situation, although an adequate treatment of this complex aspect of electrode kinetics is clearly impossible in a book of this nature and the reader is recommended to study the comprehensive work by Bockris and Reddy. ... 

Several text books introduce the concept of catalysis with a potential energy diagram in which an energy barrier separates the products and the reactants, and then state that a catalyst lowers this barrier. Do you approve of this representation Explain your answer. 

Reactions in solution proceed in a similar manner, by elementary steps, to those in the gas phase. Many of the concepts, such as reaction coordinates and energy barriers, are the same. The two theories for elementary reactions have also been extended to liquid-phase reactions. The TST naturally extends to the liquid phase, since the transition state is treated as a thermodynamic entity. Features not present in gas-phase reactions, such as solvent effects and activity coefficients of ionic species in polar media, are treated as for stable species. Molecules in a liquid are in an almost constant state of collision so that the collision-based rate theories require modification to be used quantitatively. The energy distributions in the jostling motion in a liquid are similar to those in gas-phase collisions, but any reaction trajectory is modified by interaction with neighboring molecules. Furthermore, the frequency with which reaction partners approach each other is governed by diffusion rather than by random collisions, and, once together, multiple encounters between a reactant pair occur in this molecular traffic jam. This can modify the rate constants for individual reaction steps significantly. Thus, several aspects of reaction in a condensed phase differ from those in the gas phase ... 

Let us consider in more detail the concept of a free energy barrier. Transition state theory also uses the idea that there is such a barrier in the reaction path. What is special about TST is that it ascribes certain properties to the species at the top of the barrier, the activated complex. According to TST for a unimolecular reaction,... 

The concept of conformational isomerism is central to any consideration of molecular shape. Molecules that are flexible may exist in many different shapes or conformers. Conformational isomerism is the process whereby a single molecule undergoes transitions from one shape to another the physical properties of the molecule have not changed, merely the shape. Conformational isomerism is demonstrated by compounds in which the free rotation of atoms around chemical bonds is not significantly hindered. The energy barrier to the transition between different conformations is usually very low... 

The final type of calcification mechanism involves some form of extracellular transport system which avoids all the transcellular energy barriers. As a concept, it is extremely valuable but it needs redefining of its relation to the ions under consideration and the motive forces for their movement. 

In the conformational analysis of six-membered rings, we deal with ring reversal equilibria and kinetics. To this is added in derivatives of piperidine the need to understand the equilibrium and kinetics of N inversion. Obviously, the sign of AG° is important for it determines the conformer favored at equilibrium. Less obviously, but of equal importance is the fact that the energy barrier between two conformations of N substituents consists of two half barriers AG x ts and AG q ls where AG° is the difference between the half barriers. It is important that in any precise discussion of the kinetics of N inversion that the half barrier under discussion should be clearly defined.2 Neglect of this in the past has led to much confusion and controversy the concept of half barriers is explained in detail in Ref. 2. 

For reactions that are reversible, the concept of an activation energy barrier applies to the reverse reactionjust as it does to the forward reaction. Determining the rate constants for the reverse reaction at several different temperatures by simply mixing the products together would enable you to find AHa for the reverse reaction. Figure 15-8 shows the relationship between the enthalpies of activation for the forward and reverse reactions. 

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