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Chemical Kinetics appeared 43 times across 3 years — 5% of Chemistry. This question is from Reaction Profile and Energy Diagram.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 14 21 8 43

A arrow D is an endothermic reaction occurring in three steps (elementary). (i) A arrow B Δ Hᵢ = +ve (ii) B arrow C Δ Hᵢᵢ = -ve (iii) C arrow D Δ Hᵢᵢᵢ = -ve Which of the following graphs between potential energy (y-axis) vs reaction coordinate (x-axis) correctly represents the reaction profile of A arrow D ?

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Given the overall reaction A arrow D is endothermic:

Δᵣ H = +ve ED > EA

Analyzing the mechanism steps: Step (i): A arrow B, Δᵣ H = +ve EB > EA Step (ii): B arrow C, Δᵣ H = -ve EC < EB Step (iii): C arrow D, Δᵣ H = -ve ED < EC

Putting it all together, we must have a profile where the final energy ED is higher than the initial energy EA, with intermediate dips corresponding to B and C as guided by the individual step enthalpies.

Reaction Profile for A to D
Reaction Profile for A to D

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Graph 3 matches all criteria: Overall endothermic (D > A), first step endothermic (B > A), followed by two exothermic steps (C < B and D < C).

Pattern Recognition

Endothermic overall means the tail end (products) sits higher than the origin (reactants). Exothermic intermediate steps mean the curve drops from the previous intermediate well.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics Class 11 Chemistry: Thermodynamics

Reference Study Guides

More Chemical Kinetics Previous-Year Questions — Page 8

Q84 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Kinetics of Radioactive Decay
The ratio of ¹⁴C¹²C in a piece of wood is (1)/(8) part that of atmosphere. If half life of ¹⁴C is 5730 years, the age of wood sample is .... years.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 17190 to 17190

Solution

Related Formula
N = (N₀)/(2ⁿ)

where n = tt1/2 (number of half-lives).

Alternatively, using the first-order decay formula:

t = (2.303)/(λ) ( (N₀)/(Nₜ) )

where λ = 0.693t1/2.

Core Logic

The atmospheric ratio of ¹⁴C/¹²C acts as the initial activity or amount (N₀) when the tree was alive. The current ratio in the wood represents the amount left at time t (Nₜ). Given that Nₜ = (1)/(8) N₀.

Step 1: Calculate Half-lives
(Nₜ)/(N₀) = (1)/(8) ((1)/(2))ⁿ = (1)/(8) = ((1)/(2))³

So, the number of half-lives passed, n = 3.

Step 2: Calculate Age
t = n × t1/2 t = 3 × 5730 years t = 17190 years
Pattern Recognition

Whenever the remaining fraction is a perfect power of 1/2 (like 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16), just find the exponent n and multiply by t1/2. Here, 1/8 = (1/2)³ arrow 3 half-lives.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics

Q jee_main_2024_29_january_evening First Order Kinetics and Half Life
The half-life of radioisotopic bromine - 82 is 36 hours. The fraction which remains after one day is ________ × 10⁻². (Given antilog 0.2006 = 1.587)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 63 to 63

Solution

Related Formula
k = 0.693t1/2 and t = (2.303)/(k) ₁₀ ((a)/(a-x))
Core Logic

Given t1/2 = 36 hours, calculate the decay constant (k):

k = (0.693)/(36) = 0.01925 hr⁻¹

We want to find the fraction remaining after 1 day = 24 hours:

₁₀ ((a)/(a-x)) = (k × t)/(2.303) = (0.01925 × 24)/(2.303) = 0.2006
Step 1: Antilog Application

Taking the antilog on both sides:

(a)/(a-x) = 1.587 Fraction remaining ((a-x)/(a)) = (1)/(1.587) ≈ 0.6301

Expressing the remaining fraction in the requested format:

0.6301 = 63 × 10⁻²

Thus, the required integer value is 63.

Pattern Recognition

Ensure all time variables are in matching units (hours) before substituting values into first-order kinetic equations.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics

Q82 jee_main_2024_27_jan_morning Determination of Order of Reaction
Consider the following data for the given reaction: 2HI(g) arrow H2(g) + I2(g)
Experiment[HI] (mol L⁻¹)Rate (mol L⁻¹s⁻¹)
10.0057.5 × 10⁻⁴
20.013.0 × 10⁻³
30.021.2 × 10⁻²
The order of the reaction is .
Numerical Answer. Answer: 2 to 2

Solution

Related Formula

Rate law relation expression:

R = k[HI]ⁿ

where n represents the overall reaction order indicator.

Step 1: Set up ratios using data subsets

Comparing data from experiment 1 and experiment 2:

(R₂)/(R₁) = 3.0 × 10⁻³7.5 × 10⁻⁴ = ((0.01)/(0.005))ⁿ

4 = (2)ⁿ

2² = 2ⁿ n = 2
Pattern Recognition

Doubling concentration (0.005 arrow 0.01) increases the reaction rate by 4 times (7.5 × 10⁻⁴ arrow 3.0 × 10⁻³). Hence, it is a clear second-order (2² = 4) dynamic pattern.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics

Q83 jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Arrhenius Equation and Activation Energy
For a reaction taking place in three steps at same temperature, overall rate constant K = K₁K₂K₃ . If Ea₁ , Ea₂ and Ea₃ are 40, 50 and 60 kJ/mol respectively, the overall Ea is ______ kJ/mol.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 30 to 30

Solution

Related Formula
K = A e-Eₐ/RT
Core Logic

Given the relationship between the rate constants:

K = (K₁ · K₂)/(K₃)

Substituting the Arrhenius equation for each rate constant:

A · e-Eₐ/RT = A₁ · e^-Eₐ₁/RT · A₂ · e^-Eₐ₂/RTA₃ · e^-Eₐ₃/RT

Combining the exponential terms using rules of exponents:

A · e-Eₐ/RT = ((A₁ · A₂)/(A₃)) · e^ -(Eₐ₁ + Eₐ₂ - Eₐ₃)RT
Step 1: Equating Activation Energies

By comparing the powers of e on both sides, the overall activation energy Eₐ is related to the individual steps as follows:

Eₐ = Eₐ₁ + Eₐ₂ - Eₐ₃

Substitute the given values (Eₐ₁ = 40, Eₐ₂ = 50, Eₐ₃ = 60 kJ/mol):

Eₐ = 40 + 50 - 60

Eₐ = 90 - 60

Eₐ = 30 kJ/mol
Pattern Recognition

When rate constants are multiplied or divided (K = K₁^a K₂^b / K₃^c), the corresponding overall activation energy follows the linear combination of the exponents: Eₐ = a Eₐ₁ + b Eₐ₂ - c Eₐ₃.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics

Q82 jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Rate of Chemical Reaction
NO₂ required for a reaction is produced by decomposition of N₂O₅ in CCl₄ as by equation 2N₂O5(g) arrow 4NO2(g) + O2(g) The initial concentration of N₂O₅ is 3 mol L⁻¹ and it is 2.75 mol L⁻¹ after 30 minutes. The rate of formation of NO₂ is x × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ min⁻¹, value of x is
Numerical Answer. Answer: 17 to 17

Solution

Related Formula
Rate of Reaction (ROR) = -(1)/(2) Δ [N₂O₅]Δ t = (1)/(4) Δ [NO₂]Δ t
Core Logic

First, find the rate of disappearance of N₂O₅.

- Δ [N₂O₅]Δ t = - ((2.75 - 3))/(30) = (0.25)/(30) mol L⁻¹ min⁻¹

Now, equate it to the general Rate of Reaction:

ROR = -(1)/(2) Δ [N₂O₅]Δ t = (1)/(2) ((0.25)/(30)) = (0.125)/(30) = (1)/(240) mol L⁻¹ min⁻¹
Step 1: Calculate the Rate of Formation of NO₂

Rate of formation of NO₂ = Δ [NO₂]Δ t = 4 × ROR

= 4 × (1)/(240) = (1)/(60) mol L⁻¹ min⁻¹

Convert this to scientific notation to find x:

(1)/(60) ≈ 0.01666 = 16.66 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ min⁻¹

Rounding to the nearest integer, we get x = 17.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Chemical Kinetics

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