NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 – Chemical Kinetics

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 – Chemical Kinetics (English Medium)

⏱️ Get NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 – Chemical Kinetics with accurate answers and step-by-step explanations in a clean, exam-friendly style. This chapter includes rate of reaction, rate law & order, molecularity, integrated rate equations (zero/first/second order), half-life, Arrhenius equation & activation energy, plus collision theory and catalysis. Best for CBSE boards and NEET/JEE revision. βœ…

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 3 – Chemical Kinetics
Showing all questions
Q.1: From the rate expression for the following reactions, determine their order of reaction and the dimensions (units) of the rate constant (k).

(i) 3NO(g) β†’ N2O(g)      Rate = k[NO]2
(ii) H2O2(aq) + 3Iβˆ’(aq) + 2H+ β†’ 2H2O(l) + I3βˆ’    Rate = k[H2O2][Iβˆ’]
(iii) CH3CHO(g) β†’ CH4(g) + CO(g)    Rate = k[CH3CHO]3/2
(iv) C2H5Cl(g) β†’ C2H4(g) + HCl(g)    Rate = k[C2H5Cl]
Answer
πŸ“Œ Useful rules πŸ‘‰
β€’ Order of reaction = sum of powers of concentration terms in rate law.

β€’ Rate unit = mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
β€’ So, unit of k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’n sβˆ’1 , where n = order .
(i) 3NO(g) β†’ N2O(g) ; Rate = k[NO]2

Order πŸ€” = 2

Unit of k πŸ“Œ
πŸ‘‰ k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’2 sβˆ’1

= (mol Lβˆ’1)βˆ’1 sβˆ’1

= L molβˆ’1 sβˆ’1

βœ… Order = 2, k unit = L molβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
(ii) H2O2(aq) + 3Iβˆ’(aq) + 2H+ β†’ 2H2O(l) + I3βˆ’ ; Rate = k[H2O2][Iβˆ’]

Order πŸ€” = 1 + 1 = 2

Unit of k πŸ“Œ
πŸ‘‰ k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’2 sβˆ’1

= L molβˆ’1 sβˆ’1

βœ… Order = 2, k unit = L molβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
(iii) CH3CHO(g) β†’ CH4(g) + CO(g) ; Rate = k[CH3CHO]3/2

Order πŸ€” = 3/2

Unit of k πŸ“Œ
πŸ‘‰ k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’3/2 sβˆ’1

= (mol Lβˆ’1)βˆ’1/2 sβˆ’1

= L1/2 molβˆ’1/2 sβˆ’1

βœ… Order = 3/2, k unit = L1/2 molβˆ’1/2 sβˆ’1
(iv) C2H5Cl(g) β†’ C2H4(g) + HCl(g) ; Rate = k[C2H5Cl]

Order πŸ€” = 1

Unit of k πŸ“Œ
πŸ‘‰ k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’1 sβˆ’1

= sβˆ’1

βœ… Order = 1, k unit = sβˆ’1
Explanation (Quick logic)
πŸ€” In a rate law, the powers of concentration terms add up to give the overall order (n) .

πŸ“Œ The unit of k comes from dividing the rate unit by the concentration terms in the rate law. That’s why:

πŸ‘‰ k = (mol Lβˆ’1)1βˆ’n sβˆ’1
Did You Know?
βœ… First-order reactions are very common (for example, radioactive decay), so the unit of k is always sβˆ’1 .

βœ… A fractional order (like 3/2 ) often suggests a complex reaction mechanism, not a single-step reaction.
Q.2: For the reaction:
2A + B β†’ A2B

the rate = k[A][B]2 with k = 2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6 molβˆ’2 L2 sβˆ’1.
Calculate the initial rate of the reaction when [A] = 0.1 mol Lβˆ’1, [B] = 0.2 mol Lβˆ’1.
Calculate the rate of reaction after [A] is reduced to 0.06 mol Lβˆ’1.
Answer
(i) Initial rate

πŸ‘‰ Initial rate = 8.0 Γ— 10βˆ’9 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
(ii) Rate when [A] becomes 0.06 mol Lβˆ’1

πŸ‘‰ Rate = 3.89 Γ— 10βˆ’9 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
Explanation (Step by Step)
πŸ“Œ Given

β€’ Rate law: r = k[A][B]2

β€’ k = 2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6 molβˆ’2 L2 sβˆ’1

β€’ [A] = 0.1 mol Lβˆ’1 , [B] = 0.2 mol Lβˆ’1
(i) Calculate initial rate πŸ€”

πŸ‘‰ r = k[A][B]2
= (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— (0.1) Γ— (0.2)2

First, (0.2)2 = 0.04

So, r = (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— 0.1 Γ— 0.04
= (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— 0.004
= 8.0 Γ— 10βˆ’9 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1 βœ…
(ii) Rate after [A] reduces to 0.06 mol Lβˆ’1 πŸ“Œ

New [A] = 0.06 mol Lβˆ’1

So, decrease in A = 0.10 βˆ’ 0.06 = 0.04 mol Lβˆ’1

Now use stoichiometry of: 2A + B β†’ A2B

πŸ‘‰ For every 2 moles of A consumed, 1 mole of B is consumed.

So, B consumed = (1/2) Γ— 0.04 = 0.02 mol Lβˆ’1

New [B] = 0.20 βˆ’ 0.02 = 0.18 mol Lβˆ’1

Now apply rate law again:
πŸ‘‰ r = k[A][B]2
= (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— (0.06) Γ— (0.18)2

(0.18)2 = 0.0324

So, r = (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— 0.06 Γ— 0.0324
= (2.0 Γ— 10βˆ’6) Γ— 0.001944
= 3.888 Γ— 10βˆ’9 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1

β‰ˆ 3.89 Γ— 10βˆ’9 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1 βœ…
Did You Know?
βœ… Even though the reaction consumes A and B, the rate drops mainly because [B] is squared in the rate law, so small changes in [B] can have a big effect on the rate.
Q.3: The decomposition of NH3 on a platinum surface is a zero-order reaction. What are the rates of production of N2 and H2 if k = 2.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1?
Answer
πŸ‘‰ Rate of production of N2 = 2.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1

πŸ‘‰ Rate of production of H2 = 7.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
Explanation (Step by Step)
πŸ“Œ Reaction:
2NH3 β†’ N2 + 3H2
πŸ€” For a zero-order reaction:

πŸ‘‰ Rate (r) = k (constant)
Now relate the rate with stoichiometric coefficients:

πŸ‘‰ r = βˆ’(1/2) d[NH3]/dt = d[N2]/dt = (1/3) d[H2]/dt
Since r = k = 2.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1 , we get:

βœ… Rate of formation of N2:
d[N2]/dt = r = 2.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1

βœ… Rate of formation of H2:
(1/3) d[H2]/dt = r

So, d[H2]/dt = 3r = 3 Γ— 2.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4
= 7.5 Γ— 10βˆ’4 mol Lβˆ’1 sβˆ’1
Did You Know?
βœ… Zero-order reactions are common on catalyst surfaces (like Pt) because once the surface is fully covered, increasing reactant concentration doesn’t increase the rate.
Q.4: The decomposition of dimethyl ether leads to the formation of CH4, H2 and CO and the reaction rate is given by
Rate = k [CH3OCH3]3/2.

The rate is followed by increase in pressure in a closed vessel, so the rate can also be expressed in terms of the partial pressure of dimethyl ether:
Rate = k pCH3OCH33/2.

If pressure is measured in bar and time in minutes, what are the units of rate and rate constant (k)?
Answer
πŸ‘‰ Unit of rate = bar minβˆ’1

πŸ‘‰ Unit of rate constant (k) = barβˆ’1/2 minβˆ’1
Explanation (Step by Step)
πŸ“Œ Here, the rate is expressed using partial pressure:

πŸ‘‰ Rate = k (p)3/2

πŸ€” Since pressure is measured in bar , the β€œconcentration term” is replaced by p (in bar) .
Step 1: Unit of rate

Rate is the change in pressure with time:

πŸ‘‰ Rate ∝ dp/dt

So, unit of rate = bar / min = bar minβˆ’1 βœ…
Step 2: Unit of k

Rearrange:

πŸ‘‰ k = Rate / (p)3/2

So units:

β€’ Rate unit = bar minβˆ’1

β€’ p3/2 unit = (bar)3/2

Therefore,

πŸ‘‰ unit of k = (bar minβˆ’1) / (bar)3/2

= bar1 βˆ’ 3/2 minβˆ’1

= barβˆ’1/2 minβˆ’1 βœ…
Did You Know?
βœ… When you write a rate law in terms of partial pressure, the unit of k changes compared to concentration-based rate laws.

πŸ‘‰ That’s why it’s always important to check the units used (bar, atm, Pa, seconds, minutes, etc.) before comparing rate constants.
Q.5: Mention the factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
Answer
πŸ“Œ The main factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction are:

1) Concentration of reactants

πŸ‘‰ When the concentration of reactants increases, the number of effective collisions per second increases, so rate increases.
2) Temperature

πŸ€” Increasing temperature increases the kinetic energy of molecules, so collisions become more frequent and more energetic.
πŸ‘‰ ΰ€‡ΰ€Έΰ€²ΰ€Ώΰ€ rate increases (often very noticeably).
3) Surface area (especially for solids)

πŸ“Œ Greater surface area means more particles are exposed for collision.
πŸ‘‰ ΰ€‡ΰ€Έΰ€²ΰ€Ώΰ€ powdered solids react faster than lumps/granules.
4) Catalyst

βœ… A catalyst provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy (Ea).
πŸ‘‰ So the reaction becomes faster without the catalyst being consumed.
Explanation
πŸ€” Reaction rate mainly depends on how often particles collide and how many collisions are effective .

πŸ“Œ Concentration, temperature, and surface area increase collisions, while a catalyst increases the fraction of collisions that form products (by lowering Ea ).
Did You Know?
βœ… Many everyday processes use catalysts: car catalytic converters, enzyme reactions in our body, and industrial manufacture of ammonia (Haber process).

πŸ‘‰ Without catalysts, some reactions would take years instead of seconds or minutes!
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