Chemical Kinetics: Understanding the Rate of Reaction
Why is it important to consider stoichiometry in determining the rate of reaction?
A. Divided by stoichiometry coefficients
B. Can only be determined with the specific reaction stoichiometry
C. Multiplied by the stoichiometry coefficients
D. Constant for all reactants
Answer:
The rate of reaction is divided by the stoichiometry coefficients, because they balance out the rate at which substances react according to the balanced chemical equation.
Explanation:
Understanding the Rate of Reaction:The rate of a chemical reaction is a measure of how fast the concentrations of reactants decrease or the concentrations of products increase over time. When considering the equation A → B, the rate of reaction can be expressed either as the decrease in concentration of reactant A or as the increase in the concentration of product B. These rates are inversely related to the stoichiometric coefficients of the balanced chemical equation.
The correct answer to the question 'Why is it important to consider stoichiometry in determining the rate of reaction?' would be A. Divided by stoichiometry coefficients. This is because when we write a rate law, the rate of reaction for each substance is adjusted for its coefficient in the balanced chemical equation. In other words, the rate at which a substance reacts is taken relative to how much of it is specified by the equation stoichiometry.
It's also important to understand that the rate of reaction is not constant for all reactants as it can change under different conditions such as temperature, pressure, and presence of catalysts.