UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT- Mona Campus
Course C21J - Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms

Problem Paper # 1
October, 2003

1) Outline the distinguishing features of the following mechanistic terms:
Draw energy profile diagrams for each of the above mechanisms and predict the structure of the intermediate in each case.

2) Write rate expressions for each of the following mechanisms.

                  K 
(a)     HL     <====>    H+ + L- 

                        k1
        M(H2O)63+ + L-  --> M(H2O)5L2+ + H2O 

                  K 
(b)     HL     <====>    H+ + L- 

                       k1
        M(H2O)63+ + L- ---> M(H2O)5L2+ + H2O 

                       k2
       M(H2O)63+ + HL ---> M(H2O)5L2+ + H2O

If the above reactions are conducted in the presence of excess HL, show how the rate expression becomes simplified.

3). The following rate constants were obtained for the reaction of [Co(NH3)5OH2]3+ with N3- :

Temp./°C 30.1 40.2 47.8
105k/ s-1 6.7 33.0 100

Find ΔH‡, ΔS‡, and ΔG‡ for the reaction.

Copyright © 2003 by Tara Dasgupta, all rights reserved.

Maintained by Prof. Robert J. Lancashire,
The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies,
Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
Created October 2003. Links checked and/or last modified 27th October 2003.
URL http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/tutorials/tic21j2.html