Question

For Gibbs free energy along a system path for a transformation from state 1 to state 2, the reaction kinetics can be expressed by __________

(a) Rate = C exp(-ΔG1/RT)

(b) Rate = C exp(-ΔG2/RT)

(c) Rate = G/RT

(d) Rate = RT/G

This question was posed to me in an online interview.

This is a very interesting question from Application of Phase Rule to One Component System topic in division Phase Rule of Engineering Chemistry I

Answer 1

Correct option is (a) Rate = C exp(-ΔG1/RT)

To elaborate: In the above problem, we can see that the reactions coordinate increases as the energy increases up to certain point above equilibrium and then it gradually decreases. This system represents a system at stable point of time. Thus according to energy phase relation, the rate of reaction is Rate = C exp(-ΔG1/RT).