Question

SO2Cl2 rightarrow SO2 (g) + Cl2 (g)At 600 K, SO2Cl2 will decompose to form sulfure dioxide and chlorine gas via the above equation. If the reaction is found to be first order overall, which of the following will cause an increase in he half life of SO2CL2?A. Increasing the initial concentration of SO2,CI2.B. Increasing the temperature at which the reaction occurs.C. Decreasing the overall pressure in the container.D. None of these will increase the half life.

Answer 1

Answer: D. None of these will increase the half life.

Explanation:

Half life is the amount of time taken to decay to half of its original value.  The half life is related to rate constant by the following relation for a first order reaction:

$t_{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{0.693}{k}$

As half life is independent of concentration , temperature and pressure, none of these factors would affect the half life.

Thus in the reaction,  $SO_2Cl_2 \rightarrow SO_2(g)+Cl_2(g)$ following first order kinetics, none of the factors will increase the half life.