Composite Reactions & the Steady State Approximation

DECOMPOSITION OF AZOMETHANE

Hint

If A and B are numbers, and C is a very small number; it can be assumed that:

A >> C

B >> C

AB >> C

A >> BC

B >> AC

Simplifying the Rate Expression for the Production of Nitrogen {+d[N2]/dt}

Examining the derived rate expression

d[N2]/dt = k2k1[AZO]2 / (k-1[AZO] + k2)
for the low azomethane concentration case,

it can be assumed that

k-1[AZO] >> k2

k-1[AZO] ~ k2

k-1[AZO] << k2