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CHE434 Assignment 2

The document discusses a chemistry assignment on defining the concept of a catalyst. It provides data on activation energies of reactions with and without catalysts and lists claims people have made about catalysts' effects. The assessment must agree or disagree with each claim, supporting the stance with explanations and the provided data.

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46 views4 pages

CHE434 Assignment 2

The document discusses a chemistry assignment on defining the concept of a catalyst. It provides data on activation energies of reactions with and without catalysts and lists claims people have made about catalysts' effects. The assessment must agree or disagree with each claim, supporting the stance with explanations and the provided data.

Uploaded by

raisshakim02
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHE434: PROCESS CHEMISTRY

Semester: 20234
Assignment 2
(CO1, CO3, PO1, PO2)

SET 2: DEFINING THE CONCEPTION OF A CATALYST

A. Data Relating to Catalyzed Reactions


Table 4 contains data on the price of activation energy (Ea) for reactions without and with a
catalyst.

Table 4: Differences in Stages and Ea for Reactions With and Without a Catalyst
Ea
Reaction Descriptio St (kJ/
n ep mol)
2NO(g) + O2(g) Without 2NO(g) + O2(g) =2NO2(g) 245
=
2NO2(g) Catalyst
With (i) NO(g) + O2(g) =2NO3(g)
(ii)2NO3(g) + NO(g) = 121
Au 2NO2(g)
Catalyst
(solid)
With (i) NO(g) + O2(g) = 2NO3(g)
(ii)2NO3(g) + NO(g) = 134
Pt 2NO2(g)
Catalyst
(solid)
Source: Atkins & Paula, 2006

B. Different People's Claims


Catalyst is one of the concepts in the study of chemical kinetics. The concept is a generalization
of facts that have the same characteristics (Ibrahim, 2012). The concept results from human
thought obtained from the facts and events stated in the definition and is used to solve problems
(Dahar, 2011). Each individual has a different interpretation of the same concept. One's
understanding of a concept is called a conception (Mariawan, 2002). Each individual has a
different interpretation of the same concept. Misconceptions are discrepancies in one's
conceptual understanding with scientific understanding formulated by scientists in their fields
(TekASya, 2002; Dhindsa and Treagust, 2009; Unal et al., 2010).
People's conceptions of the concept of a catalyst can vary; there are even people who experience
misconceptions about catalysts. When submitting a claim, the claim may contain a fantasy. The
following presents several claims that people have made about catalysts.

List of claims:

1. The presence of a catalyst in a reaction lowers the activation energy (Ea).

2. The presence of a catalyst in a reaction does not lower the activation energy (Ea), but the
response takes a new reaction mechanism (stages) where the total Ea is smaller.
3. The presence of a catalyst in a reaction, in this case, a solid catalyst of gold (Au) or
platinum (Pt), increases the reaction steps. There are additional new reaction pathways to change
the reactants (reactants) into reaction products (products).
4. The addition of reaction steps, the addition of new reaction pathways to change the
catalyzed substances (reactants) into reaction products (products), makes the total value of Ea
(activation energy) smaller.

C. Assessment of the Claims


You are required to assess the existing claims, you may agree or reject those claims. You must
then provide supporting data, evidence, explanations and justifications for your AGREEMENT
or REJECTION of the claims. Use the data in Table 4 to base your assessment.
My assessment of each claim is as follows:

1. My assessment of claim 1 states that "The presence of a catalyst in a reaction


lowers the activation energy (Ea)."

AGREE. Activation energy is the minimal amount of energy required to initiate a


chemical reaction where reactants are converted to products. One of the factors that
effects the activation energy is the presence of catalyst in the reaction. Catalyst refers
to a substance that increase the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy
without being consumed. If the activation energy is reduced, more reactants can cross
the energy barrier easily. So, the rate of reaction increases. From table 4, the reaction
with the lowest activation energy (Ea) is the reaction with Au catalyst (solid)
followed by reaction with Pt catalyst (solid) and reaction with the absence of catalyst
respectively.

2. My assessment of claim 2 states that "The presence of a catalyst in a reaction


does not function to reduce the activation energy (Ea), but the reaction takes a
new reaction mechanism (steps) where the total Ea is smaller."

3. My assessment of claim 3 states that "The presence of a catalyst in a reaction, in this


case, the presence of a solid gold (Au) or platinum (Pt) catalyst, causes an increase in the
reaction steps. There are additional new reaction pathways to change the reactants
(reactants) into reaction products (products)."
4. My assessment of claim 4 states that "The increase in reaction steps, the addition of
new reaction pathways to change catalyzed substances (reactants) into reaction products
(products) makes the total value of Ea (activation energy) smaller."

This assignment should be submitted as a report and presentation. It should be conducted in


groups comprising 3 students. Ensure the participation of each member during the presentation.
Submit a PowerPoint slide handout (with a minimum of 4 slide handouts printed on a side) to
your lecturer before the presentation begins. Also, include the name of each group member and
their respective student ID numbers.

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