Rates of reaction - kinetics (A2)
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How do you factor in the use of iron(III) ions as a catalyst in the iodine clock reaction when calculating the activation energy of the reaction?
Corrie writes ....
I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'factor in - when calculating the activation energy' here. From a set of experiments at different temperatures without a catalyst, you will get data that will enable you to construct an Arrhenius plot and obtain a value for the activation energy from the slope of the line.
A similar sets of experiments with added catalyst will give you another set of times and temperatures from which you can construct another Arrhenius plot to find a new activation energy, this time in the presence of a catalyst.
The involvement of the catalyst in your write-up should come when you suggest a mechanism whereby the catalyst speeds up the reaction being investigated.
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updated: 17 August 2007
