DATE PERFORMED: NOV 26, 2010

COUPLED REACTION
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

G=372.4

The experiment proper began

with the ignition of the Mg ribbons. It
was observed in this part how the
combustion of the ribbons took some
time to initiate. This contradicted the
implications of the systems free energy
state. The G of the reaction between
Mg and O2 is approximately -569.6
kJ/mol. This suggests that it is
spontaneous
and
must
therefore
proceed on its own. The discrepancy
observed could be explained by the
reactions
activation
energy,
the
minimum energy required to initiate a
chemical reaction. It could have been
that the activation energy for the Mg-O2
reaction was quite high thus taking it
some time to begin.
Magnesiums ignition was then
followed by the cutting off of its O2
supply from the atmosphere. This
involved covering the reaction with the
other slab of dry ice. Despite the
absence of an apparent O2 source, the
combustion of Mg still proceeded to
completion. The end products included
Carbon graphite and Magnesium Oxide.
The observations suggest that Mg
reacted with the Carbon dioxide from
the dry ice in the absence of a visible O 2
source.

C O2 (s ) C( graphite ) +O 2 ( g) G=394.4

kJ
mol

1
kJ
Mg( s )+ O 2 ( g) MgO( s) G=569.6
2
mol
1
M g( s )+ C O2 ( s) C (graphite )+ Mg O(s )
2

kJ
mol

Figure 1. Two-step process comprising

the reaction between Magnesium Metal
and Solid Carbon Dioxide
Figure 1 describes the reaction
mechanism between CO2 and Mg. The
reaction is composed of two steps the
decomposition of CO2 and the synthesis
of MgO. This system is an example of a
coupled reaction. It is a combination of
a number of reactions into a single one
whose total free energy state is the sum
of its components. It also complies with
the requirement that a product of one
reaction is a reactant in the other.
In this system, the decomposition
of CO2 is thermodynamically forbidden.
However, it was coupled with a reaction
which is not only thermodynamically
permitted but also highly exergonic
the synthesis of MgO. Since in a coupled
reaction, the total G is the sum of the
individual G, the positive free energy
state of the decomposition reaction was
pulled down into a negative free energy
state making it spontaneous.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
1. It took the Mg ribbon longer time to
light because of its high activation
energy. According to Arrhenius, if
molecules are moving too slowly, with
too little kinetic energy, they merely
bounce off one another without
changing. To react, the molecules
must have a total kinetic energy
equal to or greater than some
minimum
value
which
is
the
activation energy. In this case, Mg is
in its solid state giving it a small
amount of kinetic energy. The heat
from the barbecue lighter provided
the Magnesium atoms energy to be
capable to react. But due to the high

 G= n p G p nr Gr

activation energy for Mg, the reaction

took some time to begin.
2. In this coupled reaction, the heat
liberated by the synthesis of MgO is
absorbed by the decomposition
reaction
of
CO2.
Once
the
decomposition
system
absorbed
sufficient heat, it will proceed to the
formation of the products. If the
burning
Mg
was
immediately
covered, it would release some of the
heat liberated into the atmosphere
thus reducing the heat absorbed by
the decomposition reaction which
further results to a decrease in the
formed O2. A reduced amount of O2
would
mean
an
incomplete
combustion of Mg.

3.

C O2 (s ) C( graphite ) +O 2 ( g) G=394.4

kJ
mol

G= n p G p nr Gr

kJ
kJ
kj
+0
394.4
mol
mol
mol

)(

)(

372.4

2C O (g ) 2C ( s) +O(2 ) G=274.4

kJ
kJ
kJ
+0
(2 137.2
)
mol
mol
mol

) (

1
kJ
Mg(s) + O2( g) Mg O(s) G=569.6
2
mol

274.4

kJ
kj
kJ
0
+0
mol
mol
mol

)(

kJ
mol

2 Fe O(s) 2 F e(s )+ O2(g)

G= n p G p nr Gr

kJ
mol

G= n p G p nr Gr

kJ
394.4
mol

569.6

kJ
mol

The positive G for the decomposition of

CO2 implies that it is thermodynamically
forbidden and non-spontaneous. The
negative G of the synthesis of Mg O on
the other hand suggest that it is
thermodynamically
permitted,
spontaneous and highly exergonic. Upon
coupling of the two reactions, the highly
negative G of the synthesis reaction
pulled down the positive G of the
decomposition
system
into
a
spontaneous state.
4.

kJ
kJ
kj 1
kJ
569.6
0
+ (394.4
)
mol
mol
mol 2
mol

G=510.4

kJ
mol

G= n p G p nr Gr
569.6

kJ
mol

1
M g( s )+ C O2 ( s) C (graphite )+ Mg O(s )
2
G=372.4

kJ
kJ
kJ
+0
(2 255.2
)
mol
mol
mol

510.4

) (

kJ
mol

kJ
mol
2

5.

exergonic : ATP+ H 2 O ADP+ Pi

G =31

kJ
mol

Chemistry: Principles and Modern

Applications
10th
ed.
Pearson,
Toronto. 2011.

endergonic : Pi + glucose glucose6P+ H 2 O

APPENDIX
G =14

kJ
mol

A. WORKING EQUATIONS

G= n p G p nr Gr

ATP+ glucose glucose6P+ H 2 O

B. SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

C O2 (s ) C( graphite ) +O 2 ( g)

G= G1 + G 2

G=394.4

kJ
17
mol

kJ
mol

G= n p G p nr Gr
REFERENCES
Brown, T., LeMay, H.E., Bursten, B.,
Murphy, C., Woodward, P., Chemistry:
The Central Science 11th ed. Pearson,
Singapore. 2009.
Silberberg, M.S., Principles of General
Chemistry 2nd ed. McGraw Hill, NY.
2010.

kJ
kJ
kj
+0
394.4
mol
mol
mol

394.4

)(

kJ
mol

Petrucci, R.H., Herring, F. G., Madura, J.

D.,
Bissonnette,
C.,
General