alleryStart learning →Ammonia decomposes on a hot tungsten wire and also on hot quartz. Which pair of orders applies?
AZero order on both surfaces alike
BFirst order on both surfaces alike
CZero order on tungsten, first order on quartz
DFirst order on tungsten, zero order on quartz
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Zero order on tungsten, first order on quartz
1. On tungsten a plot of ammonia concentration against time is a straight line.
2. A straight line on that plot is the signature of zero order.
3. On quartz the same plot is not straight, and the reaction there is first order instead.
4. So the same reactant can show different orders on different surfaces.
5. This is another reminder that order is measured, not deduced from the equation.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Kinetics", section 12.4 Integrated Rate Laws_
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