Question

How do you draw a reaction profile diagram that shows how the energy of the reactants progresses into the energy of the products making sure all key points of the diagram can be labeled. For example, what the activation energy and overall reaction energy is. Please provide 3 examples.

Then describe how catalysts lower the activation energy of a reaction and how this effects the reaction rate.

Answer 1

Acitvation energy diagram can be represented as:

When activation energy is very high,there are very less no. of molecules ,which can cross the activation energy barrier to form product, but when a catalyst is added,it decreases the actvation energy and hence more no. of molecules can cross the barrier at particular and hence rate of formation of prodcut increases.

** note the final amount of product formed will be same in both with and without catalyst and it depends only on thermodynamics , only the rate at which equilibrium is achieved is faster in case of catalyst.**

There are many examples such as:

Hydrogentaion of organic compounds usually occurs in presence of raney nickel catalyst

Production of ammonia requires Iron catalyst to form at a profitable rate

most important is enzymes in our body,which catalyses the metabolism rate to millions of times ,without which we could't be alive

When you are making curd ,you add little lime to milk to make it faster.