Inorganic Chemistry Reaction Intermediates Quiz

• The highest energy structure along a reaction pathway is called the transition state.

• Transition states are unstable and are not detectable intermediates.

• The reaction process proceeds through a transition state without a detectable intermediate state.

• Intermediates, in contrast, are detectable and they have extended bonds and weaker bonds compared to the reactants.

• The reaction coordinate diagrams help to explain the reaction mechanism and the extent of reaction.

• The energy profiles of reactions can be determined through kinetics experiments to find the activation energy and its components.

• The principle of microscopic reversibility states that the adopted pathway between reactants and products is the same regardless of the direction of the reaction.

• The pressure dependence on reaction rates provides insight into the volume of activation and the size of the transition state.

• Large activation energies hinder the reaction rate, but large equilibrium constants favor the reaction.

• Substitution reactions are common in coordination chemistry, where metal ions like [M(H2O)m] are involved as reactants.

• Substitution reactions can produce colored products to identify metal ions and are generally rapid.

• Fe(H2O)6 + SCN- is a classic example of a substitution reaction involving [Fe(H2O)6] and SCN-.

• Other ligand species like HNO3, NaCl, H3PO4, KSCN, and NaF can be added to a solution of Fe(NO3)3.9H2O to observe the reaction.

• If the interchange reaction is reversible, it can be approximated as a pair of opposing pseudo-first order reactions.

• In an associative interchange mechanism, the I (incoming ligand) and D (departing ligand) bonds are broken and formed in the transition state.

• In a dissociative interchange mechanism, the I (incoming ligand) bond is more important in the transition state.

• The transition state of associative interchange involves the formation of an intermediate with an increased coordination number.

• The steady-state approximation results in second-order kinetics for the associative interchange mechanism.

• The kinetics of dissociative substitution reactions are influenced by various factors, including LFAE values.

• The highest LFAE values (most positive) are associated with inert ions such as d3 and low-spin d4, d5, and d6.

• The negative LFAE parameters predict low activation barriers for an octahedral complex losing a ligand.

• The splitting of d-based levels from octahedral to square-planar (SQP, C4v) symmetry is a function of the distance and angle changes in the transition state.

Test your knowledge of inorganic chemistry reaction intermediates with this quiz. Identify and understand different types of intermediates and their roles in chemical reactions.