Kinetic Versus Thermodynamic Reaction Control Tutorial
Many chemical reactions have the ability to generate more than one
product. The relative amounts of products generated in chemical reactions
is often complicated by a dependence on the conditions under which the
reaction is performed. Changes in the relative amounts of reactants,
changes in temperature, changes in the amount of time, changes in humidity,
and many other conditions can influence the product distribution of
chemical reactions.
The reason for the impact of reaction conditions on chemical reactions can
be understood as the result of two important concepts - relative thermodynamic
stability of the products generated in the reaction (which will determine
the product distribution if the reaction proceeds to equilibrium) and the relative
kinetic rate at which those products form (which impacts the product
distribution in non-equilibrium situations). The conditions described
above all can influence the ability of a chemical system (a reaction in
this case) to reach equilibrium.
In order to develop a better understanding of these principles and how
they influence the product distribution of chemical reactions, this
tutorial has been developed. The four modules were designed to be used in
order.
Module 1: Observation of changes in
product distribution under different conditions for electrophilic
addition to dienes. TAKE NOTES ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS!
Module 2: Self-test questions on product
distributions under different conditions for electrophilic addition to
dienes.
Module 3: Mechanistic explanation for
the influence of reaction conditions on electrophilic addition to
dienes.
Module 4: Mechanistic explanation for
enolate formation followed by questions on the expected influence of
reaction conditions.
Summary: Summary of the relationship
between reaction conditions and equilibrium for the two reactions
discussed.
This project was generously supported by a grant from the National Science
Foundation.
Pages developed by Mary A. Dewan and Dr. Abby Parrill
Department of Chemistry
Michigan State University
These pages may be downloaded and linked from other pages freely for
academic and educational purposes. Questions, problems, and errors should
be sent to
aparrill@memphis.edu.