Photo AI
Methanol is a very useful fuel - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 1
Methanol is a very useful fuel. It can be manufactured from biogas. The main reaction in methanol production from biogas is represented by the following equation. $... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Methanol is a very useful fuel - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
On the energy profile diagram above, sketch how the catalyst would alter the reaction pathway.
Answer
To illustrate how a catalyst affects the reaction pathway for the formation of methanol, one can refer to the energy profile diagram. Without a catalyst, the reaction pathway shows a significant energy barrier for the transition state, characterized by a high activation energy.
When a catalyst is introduced, it provides an alternative reaction pathway that has a lower activation energy. This is depicted by a modified curve on the energy profile diagram, where the peak corresponding to the transition state is lowered. The overall enthalpy change ( \Delta H) of the reaction remains the same, but the time taken for the reaction to reach completion decreases due to the reduced activation energy required for the reaction to proceed.
In the sketch, ensure the original reaction pathway is clearly shown alongside the new pathway with the lower activation energy, emphasizing the distinction made by the catalyst.