DECOMPOSITION OF AZOMETHANE

Review

Overall Reaction	AZO → C2H6 + N2
Experimental Rate Law (at low [AZO])	+d[N2]/dt = ka[AZO]2
Proposed Mechanism
Rate of Production of (Azomethane)* in the 1st Elementary Step	(d[AZO*]/dt)1 = k1[AZO]2
Rate of Production of (Azomethane)* in the 2nd Elementary Step	(d[AZO*]/dt)2 = -k-1[AZO][AZO*]
Rate of Production of (Azomethane)* in the 3rd Elementary Step	(d[AZO*]/dt)3 = -k2[AZO*]

Overall Rate of Production of (Azomethane)* {+d[AZO*]/dt}

The overall rate of production of (azomethane)* can then be found by summing the (azomethane)* production rates of the individual steps.

The Overall Rate of Production of (Azomethane)* is

d[AZO*]/dt = + k₁[AZO]² + k_-1[AZO][AZO*] + k₂[AZO*]

d[AZO*]/dt = + k₁[AZO]² - k_-1[AZO][AZO*] + k₂[AZO*]

d[AZO*]/dt = + k₁[AZO]² - k_-1[AZO][AZO*] - k₂[AZO*]

d[AZO*]/dt = - k₁[AZO]² + k_-1[AZO][AZO*] + k₂[AZO*]

d[AZO*]/dt = - k₁[AZO]² + k_-1[AZO][AZO*] - k₂[AZO*]