Explanation:
SO2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → SO3 (g)
It is observed that tripling the SO2 concentration increases the rate by a factor of 3
This means the reaction is first order with respect to SO2.
The rate is insensitive to the O2 concentration as long as an excess of oxygen is present.
This means that the reaction is Zero order with respect to O2
(a) Write the rate expression for this reaction
Rate = k [SO2]¹[O2]⁰ = k[SO2]
In first order reactions, the reaction rate is directly proportional to the reactant concentration and the units of first order rate constants are 1/sec
Unit for rate constant = 1/sec
(b) If [SO2] is multiplied by 2 and [SO3] by 4 but all other conditions are unchanged, what change in the rate will be observed?
The rate would be unchanged because;
If [SO2] is multiplied by 2; the reaction rate would increase by a factor of 2.
If [SO3] is multiplied by 4; the reaction rate would decrease by a factor of √4 = 2
The increase would cancel the increase.