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View Full Version : A chemistry problem about Rate law/mechanism stuff


dolorescampbell
Oct 28, 2011, 06:07 PM
At conditions close to standard temperature and pressure, a 2006 paper found the rate constant of this reaction to be 1.01x10-18 cm3•mol-1•s-1 (C2H4 (g) O3 (g) → 2 CH2O (g) ½ O2 (g)), where the half-life of ozone was 88 minutes. The next year in 2007, astronomers discovered a flare many light-years away emitting radiation consistent with the CH2O spectrum. Is it likely that this interstellar formaldehyde was created by the reaction above, or is a different reaction more likely? Provide a rationale for your conclusion.

Unknown008
Oct 31, 2011, 12:27 AM
What would you think?

If there is formaldehyde production detected at such a distance, this means there is a lot of formaldehyde. What does the rate constant of that reaction tell you? Is it large? Small?

Would ozone have the time to react or would it decompose before reacting?

I hope this will guide you in the correct direction.

But keep in mind that as long as you have a valid explanation, your answer will be right :)