Reaction Kinetics.

The Bromination of Acetone1

REFERENCES
Physical Chemistry, Atkins, 1994 Chapter 25
Physical Chemistry, Levine, 4th edition 1995 Chapter 17

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the rate law and the rate constant for the
bromination of acetone. From rate data collected at two or more temperatures, the
activation energy is determined.

DISCUSSION:
The bromination of acetone in acid solution proceeds according to
+
H
CH3C(O)CH3 + Br2 → CH3C(O)CH2Br + Br– + H+ [1.]
The reaction is catalyzed by hydrogen ion. The rate law is assumed to be of the form
− d [acetone] − d [Br2 ]
rate = = = k[acetone]p [Br2 ]q [H + ]r [2.]
dt dt
where k is the rate constant and [A] represents concentration of A in moles liter-1. The
exponents p, q, and r indicate the order of the reaction with respect to acetone, bromine,
and hydrogen ion, respectively.
The bromination of acetone is a particularly convenient and interesting reaction to study
kinetically. The progress of reaction is readily followed by directly observing the
decrease in bromine concentration spectrophotometrically at a wavelength where none
of the other reagents has significant absorption. Further, the reaction provides a
remarkable demonstration of the general rule that it is not possible to predict the rate
law from just the knowledge of the stoichiometric equation. As will be confirmed in
this experiment, the reaction is zero order in bromine, i.e., q in equation [2] is zero.
This result provides a straightforward application of the method of initial rates wherein
the acetone and acid are present in large excess while the bromine is used in small
concentrations to limit the extent of reaction. The small amount of bromine is
completely consumed while the other reactants remain at an essentially constant
concentration. Since the reaction velocity is independent of the bromine concentration
the rate is constant until all of the bromine is consumed. Under these conditions
− d [Br2 ]
rate = = k[acetone]p [H + ] r [3.]
dt
and therefore a plot of [Br2] against time is a straight line whose slope is the reaction
rate.
For the determination of the exponent p it is necessary that the reaction be followed in
two runs in which the initial concentrations of acetone are different while the initial
concentrations of hydrogen ion are not changed from one run to the next. Using

1
This experiment has been adapted from Crockford et al., Laboratory Manual of
Physical Chemistry, 1982.
subscripts I and II to denote the two experiments, we have [acetone]II = u × [acetone]I
and [H+] II = [H+]I. Then from equation [3], we have
rateII k[acetone]pII [H + ]rII u p [acetone]pI
= = =up [4.]
rateI k [acetone]pI [H + ]rI [acetone]pI

which yields ln( rateII rateI ) = p ln( u ) [5.]

ln( rateII rateI )

or p= [6.]
ln( u )
The exponent r is determined from two runs, say I and III, in which [acetone]I =
[acetone]III and [H+]III = w × [H+]I . These conditions lead to
ln( rateIII rateI )
r= [7.]
ln( w )
the rate constant is then determined according to equation [2] from the exponents,
reaction rate, and the concentration data for which the rate applies.
The activation energy E may be estimated from the Arrhenius relationship:
k = A exp(–Ea/RT) [8.]
if the rate constant is known at several temperatures. The empirical rate law is assumed
to hold at the other temperatures so that one needs only to measure the rate for a set of
known concentrations at each temperature of interest.
The bromine concentrations are determined from measurements of the absorption of
blue light by the solutions. The absorbance is given by
A = εbc [9.]
where ε is the molar absorptivity, b is the sample path length in centimeters, and c is
concentration in moles per liter. For Br2 dissolved in distilled water ε equals ~80
M–1cm–1 at 400 nm. The absorbance should be in the range of 0.7 to 0.2 for greatest
accuracy. Since cuvettes commonly have a sample path length of 1 cm, the desired
concentration range for bromine in the reaction mixture is from 0.0044 M to 0.0012 M.
For cuvettes that have been selected for close matching of path length, the constant ε
and b of equation [9] may be taken together as a constant B to give
A=Bc [10.]
It is recommended that the constant B be determined experimentally.

APPARATUS AND CHEMICALS:

Spectrophotometer, pipettes, volumetric flasks, glass stoppered bottles, glass stoppered
125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks, stopwatch, constant temperature bath, potassium bromate &
potassium bromide or bromine stock solution, 4M acetone, 1M hydrochloric acid.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
All absorbance measurements are to be made at 400 nm. The instructor will provide
instructions on the use of the spectrophotometer. Handle solutions containing
bromine with care, and do not let it contact your skin, it burns. If burned, see the
instructor immediately. Wear gloves. Also be cautious with the vapor, keep
solutions stoppered.

Determination of the B constant: The constant B of equation [10] is determined by

measuring the absorbance of at least three solutions of known bromine concentration.
At room temperature, prepare one solution by pipetting 10.0 ml of stock 0.02 M Br2 into
a clean 125-ml Erlenmeyer flask. Add 10.0 ml of 1 M HCl and 30.0 ml of distilled
water. Mix the solution thoroughly and measure the absorbance. Repeat this procedure
using first 6.0 ml and then 3.0 ml of 0.02 M Br2 diluted in each case with 10.0 ml of 1 M
HCl and sufficient distilled water to give a total volume of 50.0 ml of solution. Record
the three values of absorbance and concentration.

Reaction mixtures: Keep all reagent solutions thermostatted in a water bath at the
temperature you are working at. Start at 25°C and measure the reaction rate at least
twice for each of the four different solutions shown below in Table 1. You will need a
fresh mixture each time. Why? Be sure the temperature of the sample cell in the
spectrometer is the same as the thermostat.
The appropriate quantities of acetone and hydrochloric acid are first mixed together in a
125 ml Erlenmyer flask. The reaction starts as soon as the bromine water and acetone
mix in the flask. Stir the reaction mixture thoroughly and quickly. Rinse a clean
cuvette quickly with the reaction mixture, fill it and place it in the spectrophotometer.
Record the absorbance as a function of the time until the absorbance falls below about
0.1. Record the temperature of the solutions. Satisfactory reaction solutions are
prepared as shown in Table 1. For each solution add distilled water to make a total
volume of 25 ml.

TABLE 1

Solution 0.02 M Br2 4.0 M Acetone 1.0 M HCI

Number
1 5 ml 5ml 5ml
2 5 ml 2ml 5ml
3 5 ml 5ml 2ml
4 10 ml 5ml 5ml

Early in the laboratory period place some of each of the stock solutions and distilled
water in the constant temperature baths at the desired higher temperatures (35°C and
45°C are suitable) and allow sufficient time for them to reach thermal equilibrium. The
proper quantities of acetone, hydrochloric acid, and distilled water may be mixed before
placing them in the constant temperature bath. Use reaction mixture number 2 at the
higher temperature. Mix the solutions and record absorbance and time as was done for
the solutions at room temperature. Record the temperature of the water baths.

DATA ANALYSIS:
From the absorbance -measurements on the three solutions of bromine water determine
an average value of B in equation [10] . Use this result to compute the concentration of
bromine for each absorbance reading in the kinetic runs. For each run prepare a plot of
[Br2] against time and determine the rate
rate = ∆[Br2]/∆t [11.]
Equations [6] and [7] are used to compute the order of reaction with respect to acetone
and with respect to hydrogen ion. An analogous equation is used along with the data on
solutions number 1 and number 4 to calculate the order with respect to bromine.
Use equation [3] and the experimental results obtained to calculate the rate constant k
for each of the kinetic runs. Determine an average value of k for each temperature used
in the experiment. Make an Arrhenius plot (that is, ln k vs 1/T). The slope, which
equals –Ea/R yields the activation energy, and the intercept yields the preexponential
term, A. (Be careful with units!).

COMMENTS TO THE INSTRUCTOR:

The investigation of the kinetics of this reaction is reported by A. Lapworth in J. Chem.
Soc., 85, 30 (1904).
It is recommended that the bromine stock solution be prepared before the laboratory
period. The solution is prepared from the reaction of potassium bromate and potassium
bromide. Weigh on the analytical balance enough pure, dried potassium bromate
(KBrO3, 167.0 g mol–1) to provide one-third as many moles of bromate as the moles of
bromine (Br2) which are desired in the final stock solution. Transfer this to the proper
volumetric flask.
To this add a weighed amount of potassium bromide (KBr, 119.0 g mol–1) representing
five times as many moles of bromide as the moles of bromate already weighed.
Transfer this to the same volumetric flask. Fill about half-full with distilled water and
dissolve the salts with swirling. Add, slowly with gentle swirling, 0.7 ml of 3 M H2SO4
for each 0.100 gram of bromate used. Fill to the mark with distilled water, stopper and
mix thoroughly. Store the solution in a glass stoppered bottle. The Br2 is not fully
released for an hour or more.
Students should be specifically cautioned concerning the hazards of bromine vapors and
solutions of bromine. If the solution comes in contact with the skin, the affected portion
of skin should be bathed with ethanol (65%) and then with glycerin.