Experiment 2 Decomposition
of Hydrogen Peroxide The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution proceeds very slowly. A bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide sitting on a grocery store shelf is stable for a long period of time. The decomposition takes place according to the reaction below.
2 H2O2(aq) → 2 H2O + O2(g)
A number of catalysts can be used to speed up this reaction, including potassium iodide, manganese (IV) oxide, and the enzyme catalase. If you conduct the catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in a closed vessel, you will be able to determine the reaction rate as a function of the pressure increase in the vessel that is caused by the production of oxygen gas. If you vary the initial molar concentration of the H2O2 solution, the rate law for the reaction can also be determined. Finally, by conducting the reaction at different temperatures, the activation energy, Ea, can be calculated.
OBJECTIVES In this experiment, you will
· Conduct the catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide under various conditions. · Calculate the average rate constant for the reaction at room temperature. · Determine the rate law expression for the reaction. · Calculate the activation energy for the reaction.
The rate law for this reaction can be determined using the observed rates of reactions from a series of different experiments. The concentration of one reactant is held constant between two different experiments, acting as the control, while the concentration of the second reactant is different between the two experiments. The rate of reaction is measured in each experiment so the impact of changing the concentration of the second reactant can be determined. The order of the reaction with respect to each reactant is determined in this fashion and once the order of each reactant is know the rate law can then be written.
(A) Sample Exercise for Determining Reaction Order
Consider the following reaction: (CH3)3CBr(aq) + OH-(aq) → (CH3)3COH(aq) + Br-(aq) A series of experiments is carried out with the following results:
Exp 1 Exp 2 Exp 3 Exp 4 Exp 5 [(CH3)3CBr] 0.50 1.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 [OH-] 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.10 0.20 Rate (M/s) 0.0050 0.010 0.015 0.010 0.040
Find the order of the reaction with respect to both (CH3)3CBr and OH-.
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2 Advanced Chemistry with Vernier
To find the order of the reaction with respect to (CH3)3CBr, choose two experiments, 1 and 3 for example, where [OH-] is constant. A similar approach can be used to find the order of the reaction with respect to OH-, comparing experiments 2 and 5, where [(CH3)3CBr]
(1) Order with Respect to (CH3)3CBr:
Rate exp 3 = k([(CH3)3CBr]exp3)m ([OH-]exp3)n Rate exp 1 k([(CH3)3CBr]exp1)m ([OH-]exp1)n
0.015 M/s = k([1.5 M])m (0.050 M)n simplifies to: 3.0 = (3.0)m 0.0050 M/s k([0.50 M])m (0.050 M)n
Using the natural log applied to both sides and solving for “m”
Ln 3.0 = (Ln 3.0) (m) (Ln 3.0) / (Ln 3.0) = 1.10 / 1.10 = 1 = m
Since “m” = 1 the reaction is first order with respect to (CH3)3CBr.
(2) Order with Respect to [OH-]:
Rate exp 5 = k([(CH3)3CBr]exp5)m ([OH-]exp5)n Rate exp 4 k([(CH3)3CBr]exp2)m ([OH-]exp2)n
0.040 M/s = k([1.0 M])m (0.20 M)n simplifies to: 4.0 = (2.0)n 0.010 M/s k([1.0 M])m (0.10 M)n
Using the natural log applied to both sides and solving for “m”
Ln 4.0 = (Ln 2.0) (m) (Ln 4.0) / (Ln 2.0) = 1.39 / 0.69 = 2.01 = n
Since “n” = 2 the reaction is second order with respect to (CH3)3CBr.
Now that the order of the reaction for each reactant has been determined the rate law can be written for this equation:
Rate = k [(CH3)3CBr] [OH-]2
(B) Sample Exercise for Determining Molarity of a Diluted Solution
When two solutions are mixed in an experiment the total volume of the solutions is increased and the concentration of each solution is diluted. Recall:
Moles solute before dilution = moles solute after dilution
so; (Molarity)conc x (Volume) conc = (Molarity)dil x (Volume)dil
The Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier 3
What is the concentration of each compound when 6.0 mL of a 0.60 M solution of H2O2 is mixed with 2.0 mL of a 0.25 M potassium iodide solution?
(1) First consider the total volume of the solution after mixing:
6.0 mL H2O2 + 2.0 mL KI = 8.0 mL total volume of diluted solution
(2) Determine the concentration of H2O2 after mixing:
[0.75 M]conc x (6.0 mL) conc = [H2O2]dil x (8.0 mL)dil
(0.60 M)(6.0 mL) / (8.0 mL) = 0.45 M = [H2O2]dil
(3) Determine the concentration of KI after mixing:
[0.25 M]conc x (2.0 mL) conc = [H2O2]dil x (8.0 mL)dil
(0.40 M)(2.0 mL) / (8.0 mL) = 0.10 M = [KI]dil
The concentration of the H2O2 decreased from 0.60 M to 0.45 M and the concentration of KI decreased from 0.25 M to 0.10 M after the two solutions are mixed. The solutions will be diluted as the reactions begin so be sure to use the diluted concentrations of each reactant when determining the reaction orders or rate constants.
(C) Sample Exercise for Converting Pressure Rate Data to Molarity Units
The data rate recorded in this experiment is in kilopascals per second (kPa/s). Since pressure is a unit of concentration in the gas phase it can be used to determine rate when the change of pressure is measured over the change in time. However, in this experiment the reactants are in the aqueous phase and the concentration unit for the solutions is in molarity (M). kPa/s can be converted to M/s by using a derivation from the ideal gas law:
Molarity = P / RT
In which P = kPa/s, R = 8.314 L * kPa / K*mol (one of ideal gas constants), and T = temperature on Kelvin.
In one experiment the rate of O2 production was 0.22 kPa/s when the temperature of the water bath was 19.0 oC. What is this rate in M/s?
Molarity = (0.22 kPa/s) / (8.314 L*kPa/K*mol)(292.0 K) = (0.22 kPa / 2.43 x 103 L*kPa / mol)
Molarity = 9.05 x 10-5 M/s
The units kPa and Kelvin cancel leaving mol/L*s or M/s.
(D) Sample Exercise for Converting Percent Solutions (mass/volume) to Molarity Units
Assumed 100 mL of total volume of solution in a percent (mass/volume) solution and the percent value will represent the grams of solute dissolved in water to make a total volume of 100 mL. For example a 10% NaCl solution will have 10 g of NaCl dissolved in 100 mL of solution.
What is the molarity of this 10% NaCl solution?
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Molarity = moles of solute / liters of solution
If you assume 10 g NaCl and 100 mL of solution and the molar mass of NaCl is 58.5 g / mol then:
(1) Moles NaCl = (10 g NaCl)(1 mole NaCl / 58.5 g NaCl) = 0.17 moles NaCl
(2) Liters solution = (100 mL solution)(1 L solution / 100 mL solution) = 0.100 L solution
(3) Molarity = (0.17 moles NaCl / 0.100 L solution) = 1.7 M
Diagram of the equipment set for this experiment:
Figure 1
MATERIALS Vernier computer interface 3% hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, solution distilled water 0.5 M potassium iodide, KI, solution Vernier Gas Pressure Sensor 18 × 150 mm test tube thermometer or Temperature Probe two 10 mL graduated cylinders one-hole rubber stopper with stem graduated plastic Beral pipet tubing with two Luer-lock connectors 1 liter beaker solid rubber stopper (#1) ~800 mL room temperature water
Procedure Part I Decompose 3% H2O2 solution with 0.5 M KI solution at ~20°C.
The Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier 5
1. Obtain and wear goggles.
2. Prepare the reagents for temperature equilibration. a. Obtain room temperature water to set up a water bath to completely immerse the test tube.
Use a thermometer or a Temperature Probe to measure the temperature of the bath. Record this temperature in your data table for Parts I-III; presume that the water bath temperature remains constant throughout.
b. Measure out 4 mL of 3% H2O2 solution into the test tube. Seal the test tube with the solid rubber stopper and place the test tube in the water bath.
c. Measure out 2 mL of 0.5 M KI solution in a graduated cylinder. Draw about 1 mL of the KI solution into a graduated Beral pipet. Invert the pipet and immerse the reservoir end of the pipet in the water bath.
3. Connect a Gas Pressure Sensor to Channel 1 of the Vernier computer interface. Connect the interface to the computer using the proper cable.
4. Use the plastic tubing to connect the one-hole rubber stopper to the Gas Pressure Sensor, as shown in Figure 1. About one-half turn of the fittings will secure the tubing tightly.
5. Start the Logger Pro program on your computer. Open the file “12 Peroxide” from the Advanced Chemistry with Vernier folder.
6. Prepare to run the reaction and collect pressure data. d. Remove the test tube from the water bath and remove the solid stopper. e. Remove the plastic Beral pipet from the water bath and quickly transfer 1 mL of KI
solution into the test tube. Tap or lightly shake the test tube to mix the reagents. f. Seal the test tube with the one-hole stopper connected to the Gas Pressure Sensor. g. Place the test tube back in the water bath.
7. Click to begin data collection. Data will be gathered for three minutes. If necessary, gently hold the test tube so that it stays completely immersed in the water bath.
8. When the data collection is complete, carefully remove the stopper from the test tube to relieve the pressure. Dispose of the contents of the test tube as directed.
9. Examine the graph of Part I. Select a linear region just beyond the initial flat portion of the graph that covers one minute of the reaction. Click the Linear Regression button, , to calculate the best-fit line equation. Record the slope as the initial rate of the reaction in your data table. Store the results from the first trial by choosing Store Latest Run from the Experiment menu.
10. Rinse and clean the test tube for the second trial.
Part II Decompose 3% H2O2 solution with 0.25 M KI solution at ~20°C
11. Measure out 4 mL of 3% H2O2 solution into the test tube. Seal the test tube with the solid rubber stopper and place the test tube in the water bath.
12. Add 1 mL of distilled water to the remaining 1 mL of KI solution in the graduated cylinder. Swirl the mixture gently to mix the solution.
13. Draw 1 mL of the KI solution into a plastic Beral pipet. Invert the pipet and immerse the reservoir end of the pipet in the water bath. Allow both the test tube and the Beral pipet to remain in the water bath for at least two minutes before proceeding.
14. Repeat Steps 6–10 to complete Part II. Remember to store the data.
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Part III Decompose 1.5% H2O2 solution with 0.5 M KI solution at ~20°C
15. Prepare a 1.5% H2O2 solution by mixing 2 mL of distilled water with 2 mL of 3% H2O2 solution. Transfer the resulting 4 mL of the 1.5% H2O2 solution to the test tube, seal the test tube with the solid stopper, and place the test tube in the water bath.
16. Rinse and clean the graduated cylinder that you have used for the KI solution. Add a fresh 2 mL of 0.5 M KI solution to the graduated cylinder.