Answer to Question #159145 in Physical Chemistry for Ebun-oluwa

Question

the rate constant for alkali hydrolysis of bromopenta amine cobalt II [C₂(NH₃)₅Br]²⁺ depends on ionic strength as tabulated below. what can be said about the activated complex in the rate determining stage?

I 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025 0.030

k/k_o 0.718 0.631 0.562 0.515 0.475 0.447

Answer 1

Since Ko is greater than K, the rate of reaction depends mostly on K for [C₂(NH₃)₅Br]²⁺. The activation energy, Ea, increases with decreased K, increasing the formation of activated complex. Besides, formation of activated complex in [C₂(NH₃)₅Br]²⁺ increases with increased ionic strength, I.