Catalysts and the Standard Entropy of Activation

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Glenda Marshall DIS 3M
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2014 3:00 am

Catalysts and the Standard Entropy of Activation

Postby Glenda Marshall DIS 3M » Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:15 pm

I know that a catalyst reduces the free energy of activation by weakening bonds and thus lowers the standard enthalpy of activation, but how does it raise the standard entropy of activation? The wording the in the book is confusing to me. Thank you!

Chem_Mod
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Re: Catalysts and the Standard Entropy of Activation

Postby Chem_Mod » Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:49 pm

A catalyst may facilitate the correct orientation for a reaction.

Normally a reaction might require reactants to be in an unlikely orientation. The entropy of unlikely states is low. A catalyst can make this orientation more likely, thus increasing entropy.

Justin Le 2I
Posts: 142
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:02 pm

Re: Catalysts and the Standard Entropy of Activation

Postby Justin Le 2I » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:30 pm

Adding onto Chem_Mod, the increase of entropy is why the free energy of the transition states will always be higher than the free energy of the reactants.


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