Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Energy Diagram

Organic Chemistry

6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Energy Diagram

Previous problemNext problem

2:41 minutes

Problem 11c

Textbook Question

The reaction of tert-butyl chloride with methanol

is found to follow the rate equation
rate = k_r[(CH₃)₃C—Cl]
c. What is the kinetic order overall

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Analyze the given rate equation, rate = Kr[(CH3)3C—Cl]. This indicates that the rate of the reaction depends only on the concentration of tert-butyl chloride ((CH3)3C—Cl).

Step 2: Recall the definition of reaction order. The reaction order is determined by the sum of the exponents of the concentration terms in the rate equation. In this case, the exponent for [(CH3)3C—Cl] is 1.

Step 3: Note that methanol (CH3OH) is present in the reaction but does not appear in the rate equation. This suggests that the reaction rate is independent of the concentration of methanol, confirming that the reaction is unimolecular.

Step 4: Recognize that this type of reaction is characteristic of an SN1 mechanism, where the rate-determining step involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate from tert-butyl chloride.

Step 5: Conclude that the overall kinetic order of the reaction is 1, as the rate depends solely on the concentration of tert-butyl chloride.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above

Video duration:

Play a video:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Nucleophilic substitution reactions involve the replacement of a leaving group (like Cl in tert-butyl chloride) by a nucleophile (like methanol). In this case, the reaction follows an SN1 mechanism due to the stability of the tert-butyl carbocation formed during the reaction. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for analyzing the reaction's kinetics and products.

Rate Law and Kinetic Order

The rate law expresses the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction and the concentration of its reactants. In this case, the rate equation is given as rate = Kr[(CH3)3C—Cl], indicating that the reaction is first-order with respect to tert-butyl chloride. The overall kinetic order is determined by summing the exponents in the rate law, which in this case is 1.

Energy Diagram

An energy diagram visually represents the energy changes during a chemical reaction, including the activation energy and the transition states. The diagram for the reaction of tert-butyl chloride with methanol would show the formation of the carbocation intermediate and the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to proceed. This understanding helps in grasping the reaction's mechanism and its rate.

Watch next

Master Introduction to free energy diagrams. with a bite sized video explanation from Johnny

Start learning

Related Videos

Related Practice

Textbook Question

When a small piece of platinum is added to a mixture of ethene and hydrogen, the following reaction occurs: Ethene

Doubling the concentration of hydrogen has no effect on the reaction rate. Doubling the concentration of ethene also has no effect.

a. What is the kinetic order of this reaction with respect to ethene? With respect to hydrogen? What is the overall order?

Textbook Question

The reaction of tert-butyl chloride with methanol

is found to follow the rate equation

rate = k_r[(CH₃)₃C—Cl]

a. What is the kinetic order with respect to tert-butyl chloride?

Textbook Question

The reaction of tert-butyl chloride with methanol(CH3)3C—Cl Tert-butylchloride + CH3—OH methanol —> (CH3)C—OCH3 methyltert-butylether + HCl is found to follow the rate equation rate= Kt[(CH3)3C—Cl] a. What is the kinetic order with respect to tert-butyl chloride?

Textbook Question

Chapter 5 taught us that chemical reactions are random collisions. Experimentally, how can we make molecules collide more often?

Textbook Question

The reaction of tert-butyl chloride with methanol(CH3)3C—Cl Tert-butylchloride + CH3—OH methanol —> (CH3)C—OCH3 methyltert-butylether + HCl is found to follow the rate equation rate= Kr[(CH3)3C—Cl] c. What is the kinetic order overall?

Textbook Question

Under certain conditions, the bromination of cyclohexene follows an unusual rate law:

a. What is the kinetic order with respect to cyclohexene?

Textbook Question

The molecule A undergoes a three-step reaction to make B, where the first step is rate determining. Conversely, C can be produced by A in a two-step reaction where the second step is rate determining. Show a reaction coordinate diagram for each reaction, making it clear that the reaction to make C is faster than the reaction to make B.