Becker's World of the Cell (9th Edition)
Becker's World of the Cell (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780321934925
Author: Jeff Hardin, Gregory Paul Bertoni
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 6, Problem 6.1CC

Gasoline is highly combustible yet doesn’t burst into flame spontaneously in the presence of oxygen. Why not? How is the action of a match to promote this combustion reaction different from the action of a catalyst?

Expert Solution
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Summary Introduction

To explain: The reason behind the non-spontaneous combustion of gasoline after being present in contact with oxygen.

Introduction: The catalysts are those elements in a process which increases the rate of reaction. They are not consumed in a reaction but increase the reaction rate by decreasing the activation energy. The catalysts can be used again in any other reaction after their work is done in a particular reaction.

Explanation of Solution

Gasoline is a colorless fuel which is used in the “combustion engines.” The combustion of gasoline contributes to the release in the carbon dioxide gas. The part of oxygen in the reaction is to support the combustion of gasoline. The heat source in the reaction is from the fuel, there is no part of oxygen in the production of heat during the process. The rate of combustion is increased only when the oxygen is bind to the gasoline will expose in the environment. The oxygen possessed very less activation energy in this reaction because of that the combustion reaction is said to be non-spontaneous.

Expert Solution
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

To explain: The variation in between the action of a match and a catalyst in the procedure of combustion reaction.

Introduction: The catalysts are those elements in a process which increases the rate of reaction. They are not consumed in a reaction but increase the reaction rate by decreasing the activation energy. The catalysts can be used again in any other reaction after their work is done in a particular reaction.

Explanation of Solution

When a process is taking place, the catalyst increases its rate of reaction. The process is not taking place because of the limiting activation energy of oxygen. When a match is used to initiate the process, the reaction takes place between the match and gasoline leading to the combustion of the gasoline. After the process is initiated the catalyst can increase the further rate of reaction.

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Students have asked these similar questions
Many spontaneous reactions occur very slowly. Whydon’t all spontaneous reactions occur instantly?
Why is oxygen when unbound to any other material can be toxic to life?
Can adding a catalyst make a non-spontaneous reaction spontaneous? If yes, how (what does the catalyst do that makes the reaction spontaneous?), and if no, why not?
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