In the reaction of C5H12 + O2 = CO2 + H2O, the rate of formation of CO2 is 0.18 M/s. What is the rate of formation for C5H12 in M/s?

Question

Answer choices:

(Δ[O2])/Δt = 0.18

(Δ[O2])/Δt = -0.036

(Δ[O2])/Δt = -0.216

None of the above

(Δ[O2])/Δt = -0.288

Answer 1

This is a mole stoichiometry problem. You have to balance the reaction:

C₅H₁₂ + 8O₂ → 5CO₂ + 6H₂O

.18 mole/ liter s CO₂ (1 mole pentane/5 moles CO₂) = .036 mole/liter s pentane

The answer is negative as pentane is a reactant.

Formally, the coefficients of reaction are the ν_i with reactant stoichiometric coefficients being negative:

r_i = (ν_i/ν_j)r_j and r_i/ν_i = r The rate of the extent of reaction.

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