The gas-phase reaction of NO with F2 to form NOF and F has an activation energy of Ea = 6.3 kJ>mol. and a frequency factor of A = 6.0 * 108 M-1 s-1. The reaction is believed to be bimolecular: NO1g2 + F21g2 ¡ NOF1g2 + F1g2 (e) Suggest a reason for the low activation energy for the reaction.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key components of the reaction: The reactants are NO and F2, and the products are NOF and F. The reaction is bimolecular, involving two molecules colliding.
2. Understand the concept of activation energy (Ea): Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a reaction to occur. It is the energy barrier that reactants must overcome to be transformed into products.
3. Analyze the given activation energy value: An activation energy of 6.3 kJ/mol is relatively low, which suggests that the energy barrier for this reaction is not very high.
4. Consider the nature of the reactants: NO is a radical with an unpaired electron, and F2 is a molecule that can easily dissociate into radicals. The presence of radicals generally leads to lower activation energies because radicals are highly reactive and can stabilize transition states.
5. Propose a reason for the low activation energy: The low activation energy could be due to the formation of a transient intermediate or transition state that is stabilized by the radical nature of the reactants, leading to a more efficient reaction pathway with a lower energy barrier.

Key Concepts

Activation Energy

Activation energy (Ea) is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur. It represents the energy barrier that reactants must overcome to transform into products. A low activation energy, such as 6.3 kJ/mol in this reaction, indicates that the reaction can proceed relatively easily, often due to favorable molecular interactions or the presence of a catalyst.

Bimolecular Reactions

Bimolecular reactions involve two reactant molecules colliding to form products. The rate of bimolecular reactions is influenced by the concentration of both reactants and the frequency of their collisions. In this case, the reaction between NO and F2 suggests that the low activation energy may be due to effective collisions between these two species, leading to a faster reaction rate.

Frequency Factor

The frequency factor (A) is a term in the Arrhenius equation that reflects the frequency of collisions and the orientation of reactant molecules during those collisions. A high frequency factor, like 6.0 x 10^8 M^-1 s^-1, suggests that the reactants are colliding frequently and with the correct orientation, which can contribute to a lower activation energy by increasing the likelihood of successful reactions.