DECOMPOSITION OF AZOMETHANE

Review

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

Rate of Production of Nitrogen in the First Elementary Step {+(d[N₂]/dt)₁}

In a similar fashion, the rate of production of Nitrogen can be determined.

Since in the first elementary step,

Nitrogen does not appear as either a reactant or a product,

the rate of production of Nitrogen (for this step) would be

+d[N₂]/dt = +ive

+d[N₂]/dt = 0

+d[N₂]/dt = -ive