The reversible gas-phase reaction
C₂H₄(g) + H₂(g) ⇌ C₂H₆(g)
is carried out isothermally in a sealed reactor at 300K. Immediately after the gases are introduced, the measured rates are as follows:
• Forward process rate: 8.0×10−4mol⋅L−1⋅s−1
• Reverse process rate: 8.0×10−4mol⋅L−1⋅s−1
A sudden temperature jump to 340K is then imposed. Kinetic studies reveal that raising the temperature by 40K increases the forward rate by 50% but increases the reverse rate by 150% relative to their respective 300K values.
Answer the following questions related to this temperature perturbation.
(a) Calculate the new numerical values (with units) of the forward and reverse rates immediately after the temperature is increased to 340K.
(b) Determine the net direction of conversion in the reactor immediately after the temperature change and quantify the net rate, indicating its sign.
(c) Explain, in terms of the comparative sensitivity of the two opposing processes to temperature, why the direction predicted in part (b) is obtained.