In: Chemistry
The deprotonation of acetic acid goes by the mechanism
CH3COOH + H2O ⇒ CH3COO– + H3O+
Assume the pKa of acetic acid at 25°C is 4.76, and the forward rate at a pH of 4 is 102 s–1.
(a) Calculate the forward and reverse rate constants for the reaction.
(b) Calculate the relaxation time if a 10–2 M solution of solution of acetate in water at pH 6 is subjected to a temperature jump.
(c) Given reasonable estimates for molecular sizes, determine if the forward and/or the reverse reactions are likely to be diffusion limit.