Question

Draw a reaction-energy diagram for a two-step endothermic reaction with a rate-limiting second step

Answer 1

two-step endothermic reaction:

1. It is an endothermic reaction, so the energy of products are more than the energy of reactant.

2. It is two step reaction, then there is an interediate stage . In first step Reactant (R) converts to an intermediate (I)and in the secod step intermediate converts to products (P).

3. The second step is rate-limiting step so the activational energy for this step (E2) is must be greater than the ctivational energy of the first step (E1) -------- E2 > E1