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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: ferretman25 on October 09, 2019, 12:39:20 PM

Title: How does MoO4 serve as a catalyst in the iodine clock reaction
Post by: ferretman25 on October 09, 2019, 12:39:20 PM
The iodine clock reaction involves 2 equations:

1. H2O2 (aq) + 2I-(aq)+ 2H+(aq) → 2H2O(l) + I2 (aq)
2. I2 (aq) + 2S2O32-(aq) → 2I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq)

Adding a solution of MoO4 catalyses the first reaction by providing an alternative pathway with a lower activation energy - 43 kJ/mol as compared to 52 kJ/mol in the uncatalysed reaction - as according to this source (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed075p87). What specifically is this 'alternative pathway' and in full detail, how does the MoO4 speed up the reaction rate of the first reaction?
Title: Re: How does MoO4 serve as a catalyst in the iodine clock reaction
Post by: Borek on October 09, 2019, 01:27:16 PM
Please don't cross post, asking once is perfectly enough.

Locked here.