Validity of Rate Laws

[laurence14b2f]

Hi all! How do deviations from ideal reaction conditions, such as non-ideal mixing or varying pressure, affect the validity of rate laws? Thanks!

[Brian Huynh 2L]

They are very limiting, however, calculations would be too complex if they took into account how much reactant was created from product i.e the reverse reaction. The ideal-rate laws that are calculated in class take the initial concentrations of reactants, which means that they are the maximum rates. This is a necessary assumption because the rates between reactants and products are not linearly related- they decrease /increase exponentially.

[906112539]

Hi all! How do deviations from ideal reaction conditions, such as non-ideal mixing or varying pressure, affect the validity of rate laws? Thanks!

Good morning! Deviations like non-ideal mixing or varying pressure will definitely affect the rate laws. Non-ideal mixing creates uneven reactant concentrations, causing slower reaction rate due to limiting factors in diffusion. As for varying pressure, using Le Chatelier's principle, increasing pressure will shift the reaction towards the side with less moles of gas and vice versa when there is a decrease in pressure. This will change the rate constant used in rate laws.