Chapter 14, Problem 14.1VP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The reaction for the decomposition of Nitrous oxide into Nitrogen and Oxygen and the graph representing the change in the concentration of the reactants and products is given. The curve representing the concentration of ${\text{N}}_2\text{O}$ and concentration of ${\text{O}}_2$ is to be stated.

Concept introduction: The branch of science that deals with the rate of chemical reaction is known as chemical kinetics.

To determine: The curve representing the concentration of ${\text{N}}_2\text{O}$ and concentration of ${\text{O}}_2$.

Answer to Problem 14.1VP

Solution

The green curve corresponds to the concentration of ${\text{N}}_2\text{O}$ while the red curve corresponds to the concentration of ${\text{O}}_2$.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation

The graph for change in the concentration of reactants and products is given as,

Figure 1

The given reaction is,

$2{\text{N}}_2\text{O}\left(g\right)\to 2{\text{N}}_2\left(g\right)+{\text{O}}_2\left(g\right)$

During a chemical reaction the concentration of reactant keeps on decreasing while the concentration of products keeps on increasing. Therefore, in the above graph green curve is showing a decrease in concentration with time, it means it corresponds to the reactant and in the given equation ${\text{N}}_2\text{O}$ is the reactant and therefore, curve green corresponds to ${\text{N}}_2\text{O}$.

As blue and red curve show an increase in the concentration, therefore they correspond to the products. The concentration in blue curve is twice the concentration in red curve. Now, as the concentration of ${\text{N}}_2$ is twice the concentration of ${\text{O}}_2$, therefore the blue curve corresponds to ${\text{N}}_2$ while the red curve corresponds to ${\text{O}}_2$.

Conclusion

The curve showing decrease in concentration corresponds to the reactant while the curve showing increase in concentration corresponds to the products.