Module 1 - DR RK
Module 1 - DR RK
Module -1
A. Thermodynamics
1
Thermodynamics: Basic Terminologies
# Extensive Properties
2
Thermodynamics: Basic Terminologies
# Path function:
Depends on the path between the initial & final
state 3
Example: W (work done), q (heat transferred) etc.
Thermodynamics: Basic Terminologies
State of a system
The state of thermodynamic variables such as Work done on/by the system
pressure, temperature, volume, composition W (Work) = F (force) x w (distance moved in the direction of force)
which describes the system is called state of
the system.
when one/more variables undergo change,
the system is said to have undergone a
change of state
• Adiabatic – no heat transferred
• Isothermal – constant temperature
• Isobaric – constant pressure
• Isochoric – constant volume
Gas is heated it will expand and push the piston, thereby doing work on the piston.
The work done (dw) when the system expands by dV against a pressure Pex: dw = −PexdV
Total work done by the system to expand from volume Vi to Vf: W = -dv
5
0th Law of Thermodynamics
6
1st Law of Thermodynamics
Heat (q) and work (w) are equivalent ways of changing the internal energy of a system
® Example:
o If a weight has been raised/lowered in the surroundings, transfer of energy happens by doing the work.
o If ice has melted in the surroundings, it indicated transfer of energy as heat.
𝜟𝑼 =𝒒 − 𝒘 7
Enthalpy & Heat Capacity
If the change of a system is brought about at Heat capacity (C) of a system b/n any two temperatures –
constant pressure, there will be change in the quantity of heat (q) required to raise the temperature
volume. of the system from the lower temperature (T1) to the higher
temperature (T2) divided by the temperature difference.
Vi = volume of initial state, Vf = volume of final state. 𝒒
Work done by the system, 𝑪=
𝑻 𝟐− 𝑻 𝟏
ΔU = q + w ☻ If mass of the system is 1 g,
or, ΔU = q - P () the heat capacity is called the specific heat of the
Þ system
Þ ☻ For 1 mol of substance,
the heat capacity is termed as ‘molar heat capacity’
The quantity (U + PV) is called the Molar heat capacity varies with temperature C
enthalpy (H) of the system
Þ
Molar heat capacity at constant volume
or,
ΔU = ΔH – PΔV
ΔH = ΔU + PΔV @ constant volume w = 0 & ΔU = q
𝐶 𝑣= ( )
𝜕𝑈
𝜕𝑇 𝑣
8
Heat Capacity
Molar heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp)
ΔU = q + w
( )
@ constant pressure,
ΔU = q – P () As quantity (U+PV) is the Þ 𝝏𝑯
there is change in volume
or, q = ΔU + pΔV
𝑪𝒑 =
& some work is done enthalpy (H) of the system 𝝏𝑻 𝒑
w= =
( )( )
𝛾−1
ΔU = w
𝑇𝑖 𝑉𝑓
= Þ ln
(as no heat is allowed to enter/leave the system, q = 0) 𝑇𝑓 𝑉𝑖
ln 𝐶𝑝
Example: A gas expanding so quickly that no heat can be Þ [𝑎𝑠 ,𝛾= ]
transferred. Due to the expansion work, temperature 𝐶𝑣
drops. This is exactly what happens with a carbon ln
dioxide fire extinguisher, with the gas coming out at high Þ ― = R]
pressure and cooling as it expands at atmos. pressure
ln
® Expansion: w = ― ve, = ― ve; Þ
So, T of the system falls
Þ Work is done by the system at the expense of its Irreversible adiabatic expansion
internal energy
Free expansion (Pex = 0) :
w = = (for 1 mole of gas) Expansion against a constant pressure:
(for 1 mole of gas)
12
Application of 1st Law to the Expansion Work
Isobaric process (constant pressure) Isochoric process (constant volume)
13
Numerical from of 1st Law
Example 1: Calculate w and for the conversion of 1 Example 2: 1 mole of an ideal gas expands against
mole of water at 100 to steam at 1 atm pressure. a constant external pressure of 1 atm from a
Heat of vaporisation of water at 100 is 40670 Jmol-1 volume of 10 dm3 to a volume of 30 dm3. Calculate
the work done by the gas in Joules.
Solution: Solution:
P = 1 atm = 101325 Nm-2
Vi = vol. of 1 mole of liquid water at 1 atm pressure
= 18 ml = 18 10-6 m3
Vf = vol. of 1 mole of steam at 100 at 1 atm pressure ¿ −20 𝑑𝑚3 𝑎𝑡𝑚
= (22.4 dm3 373)/273 = 30.60 dm3 = 0.0306 m3
w = P (Vf - Vi) R = 8.314 Jmol-1K-1 = 0.08206 dm3 atm K-1 mol-1
= 101325 Nm-2 [0.0306 m3-(18 10-6 )m3]
= 101325 Nm-2 0.0306 m3 = 3100 Jmol-1 1 atm =
Since, conversion of water to steam is accompanied
by increase in volume, work is done by the system Therefore,
on the surroundings.
Hence, w = – 3100 Jmol-1
= – 2026 J
14
Numerical from of 1st Law
Example 3: 1 mole of an ideal monoatomic gas at 27 C expands reversibly and adiabatically from a volume of
10 dm3 to a volume of 20 dm3. Calculate q, U, W and H. Given
Solution:
Since the process is adiabatic, q = 0 Since for an adiabatic process, q =0,
hence ΔU = w = – 1384 J
Þ ΔH = ΔU + ΔPV = ΔU + ΔnRT
Þ Tf = 189K = ΔU + nR(Tf- Ti)
𝐶𝑣=
𝜕𝑈
( )
𝜕𝑇 𝑣
Þ ® (1 mol)
ΔH = – 1384 J – 923 J = – 2307 J
For a finite change in n moles,
# Note: ΔH can also be calculated by using the
= (1 mol) relation
= – 1384 J
Example 4: 10 moles of an ideal gas expands reversibly and isothermally from a pressure of 10 atm to 2 atm at
300 K. Calculate the work done.
Solution: w = = (10 mol) = 40.15 103J 15
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Why we need for the 2nd law of thermodynamics?
the 1st law uses the internal energy to identify
® The 1st law of thermodynamics does not tell us
permissible changes
anything about the direction of change. The the 2nd law uses the entropy to identify which of
direction of spontaneous change of a process is
these permissible changes are spontaneous.
defined by the 2nd law of thermodynamics
® A spontaneous process points towards the
2nd law of thermodynamics direction in which the total entropy increases.
Heat does not flow spontaneously from a cool Entropy (S) is a state function
body to a hotter body
Thermodynamic definition of entropy
The entropy (S) of an isolated system increases in
the course of a spontaneous change. ® The thermodynamic definition of entropy
ΔStot > 0 concentrates on the change in entropy (dS)
that occurs as the result of a physical or
Where, Stot = S + Ssur chemical process.
S = the entropy of the system of interest, & ® dqrev is the energy transferred as heat
Ssur = the entropy of the surroundings reversibly to the system at the absolute
# Note: when considering applications of the 2nd law – it is a temperature T.
statement about the total entropy of the overall isolated
system (the ‘universe’), not just about the entropy of the ,
system of interest. 16
Entropy
Process that lead to an increase in entropy (ΔS > 0) Entropy change for the system of an isothermal
expansion of a perfect gas
ΔU = 0, q = -w
as, wrev =― nRT ln ()
[from the expression of work done in a reversible
isothermal expression]
as
Þ Δ 𝑆=𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛(𝑉𝑓 /𝑉𝑖)
Δ 𝑆 𝑚=𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛(𝑉𝑓 /𝑉𝑖)
The 1st law & the 2nd law of thermodynamics were summed up by German Physicist Rudolf Clausius as below:
The energy of the universe remains constant; the entropy of the universe tends towards a maximum
Entropy change during different processes Heat engine
Its a device which transforms heat into work
For an ideal gas (1 mole) with variable T & V This happens in a cyclic process
Heat engines require a hot reservoir to supply energy
For an ideal gas with variable P & T
(QH) and a cold reservoir to take in the excess energy (QC)
– QH is defined as positive, QC is defined as negative
For an ideal gas in an isothermal process
= Carnot Cycle
For an ideal gas in an isobaric process
A Carnot cycle (named after the French engineer Sadi
For an ideal gas in an isochoric process Carnot) consists of four reversible stages in which a gas
(the working substance) is either expanded/compressed in
various ways
To demonstrate the maximum convertibility of heat into
work
The system consists of 1 mole of an ideal gas which is
subjected to four strokes
19
Carnot Cycle
In an exothermic reactions
25
Numerical from 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Example 1: Calculate the efficiency of a Example 3: Heat supplied to a Carnot engine is 1897.8 kJ. How
certain power station operates with much useful work can be done by the engine which works
superheated steam at 300 (Th = 573 K) between 0 ∘C and 100 ∘C.
and discharges the waste heat into the Solution:
environment at 20 (T = 293 K).
Tc= 0 + 273 = 273 K, Th = 100 + 273 = 373 K
Solution: Tc= (1 − η)Th qh = 1897.8 kJ
η = 1 – (Tc /Th) w
Theoretical efficiency (η) = 1 – (293K/573K) = 1897.8 kJ
= 0.489 = 508.7 kJ
= 48.9 % Work done by the engine is 508.7 kJ
# In practice, there are other losses due to
mechanical friction and the fact that
turbines do not operate reversibly.
Example 2: Calculate the maximum efficiency of a heat engine operating between 100 ∘C and 25 ∘C
Solution: = 1 – (298 K/373 K)
Tc= 25 + 273 = 298K Tc= (1 − η)Th
For engines, we have = 0.201
Th= 100 + 273 = 373 K η = 1 – (Tc /Th) = 20.1 % 26
Numerical from 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Example 4: 5 mole of an ideal gas expands Example 5: Calculate the change in entropy accompanying
reversibly from a volume of 8 dm3 to 80 the heating of 1 mole of Helium gas (assumed ideal) from
dm3 at a temperature of 27 ∘C. Calculate the a temperature of 298 K to a temperature of 1000 K at
change in entropy. constant pressure. Assume Cv =3/2 R
Solution: Solution: As
) Cp =
Given that = 2, = 80 dm3 𝑇𝑓
∆ 𝑆𝑃 =𝐶 𝑝 ln
𝑇𝑖 = 25.17
= (5 mol) (8.314 J K-1mol-1) (80 dm3/8 dm3)
= 95.73 JK-1
Example 6: 1 mol of an ideal gas expands reversibly from a volume of 10 dm3 and 298 K to a volume of 20 dm3
and temperature 250 K. Assuming Cv =3/2 R, calculate the entropy change for the process.
Solution:
= 1.5 ( + ( ln (20 dm3/10 dm3)
= 3.57 JK-1mol-1
27
3rd Law of Thermodynamics
At T = 0, all energy of thermal motion has
been quenched and in a perfect crystal all the
atoms/ions are in a regular, uniform array.
The localization of matter and the absence of
thermal motion suggest that such materials
also have zero entropy.
Statistical or microscopic definition of entropy:
S = k ln W
where, S = the entropy,
k = Boltzmann constant, ® When T = 0, W = 1
W = the number of microstates or S = k lnW
the total number of ways a =0
molecular state can be distributed if the value zero is ascribed to the entropies of elements
over the energy states for a specific in their perfect crystalline form at T = 0, then all perfect
value of total energy. crystalline compounds also have zero entropy at T = 0
Third law of thermodynamics:
The entropy of all perfect crystalline substances is zero at T = 0. 28
Module 1
B. Chemical Kinetics
29
What is Chemical kinetics?
Chemical kinetics is the branch of chemistry which deals with the study of
rates (or fastness) of chemical reactions, the factors affecting it and the
mechanism by which the reactions proceed.
30
The rates of reactions
The change in concentration of reactants or products per unit time.
31
The rates of reactions
1 d A 1 d B 1 d C 1 d D
a dt b dt c dt d dt
32
The rates of reactions
Sample Questions:
Write rate expressions for the following reactions:
Solution:
2. 1 d HI d H 2 d I 2
2 dt dt dt
33
Rate laws and rate constants
The rate law is the relationship between the rate and the concentration, which
are related by a proportionality constant k, known as rate constant.
aA + bB → cC + dD
rate = k [A]m[B]n
where m and n are order of reaction in A and B, respectively k is the rate constant.
34
Rate laws and rate constants
The rate law is not limited to reactants. It can have a product term,
For example: rate = k[A]m[B]n[C]c
The units for k vary. Determine units for k by considering units for rate
and for concentration.
35
Order of a reaction
A+B→C
The overall reaction order is the sum of the exponents in the rate law.
Examples:
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl. Rate = k[H2]0 [Cl2]0 (Zero order)
SO2Cl2(g) → SO2(g) + Cl2(g) Rate = k[SO2Cl2]1 (First order)
NO2 → 2 NO + O2 Rate = k[NO2]2 (Second order)
2NO(g) + 2H2(g) → 2N2 (g) + 2H2O (g) Rate = k[NO]2 [H2]1 (Third order)
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O CH3COOH + C2H5OH Rate = [CH3COOC2H5]1[H2O]0 (pseudo-first-order)
36
Integrated rate laws
Since rate laws are in differential form, we must integrate them to find out the concentration as
a function of time.
[ A ]0
A
k dt
0
If we plot ln [A]t versus time, then we will get a straight line having negative
slope (-k). Rate constants can be determined from experiment by plotting data
in this manner.
38
Integrated rate laws
Other forms:
ln
At kt
A0
At e kt
A0
At A0 e kt
Integrated first order rate law
39
Integrated rate laws
Question: The variation in the partial pressure of azomethane with time was
followed at 600 K, with the results given below. Confirm that the decomposition
is first-order in azomethane, and find the rate constant at 600 K.
It is clear from the result that the half-life of a reactant is independent of its
initial concentration for a first-order reaction. Therefore, if the concentration of A
at some arbitrary stage of the reaction is [A], then it will have fallen to 1/2[A]
after a further interval of (ln 2)/k.
41
First-order Half-life
Another important point to note is the time constant, (tau), the time required
for the concentration of a reactant to fall to 1/e of its initial value.
A / e 1
k ln 0 ln 1
A0 e
Thus, the time constant of a first-order reaction is the reciprocal of the rate
constant, .
Question:
1. The half-life of a first-order reaction was found to be 10 min at a certain
temperature. What is its rate constant?
42
First-order Half-life
Question:
2. If 3.0 g of substance A decomposes for 36 minutes the mass of unreacted A
remaining is found to be 0.375 g. What is the half-life of this reaction if it follows
first-order kinetics?
Solution:
ln
At kt
A0
ln
At / t k
A0
0.375 g
ln
3g
k
36 min
k =0.0578 min-1
ln 2 0.693
t1 / 2 12 min
k 0.0578
43
Integrated second-order rate law
A→ B
d A
k A
2
dt
d A
kdt
A2
1 1
kt
At A0
For example:
CH3COOC2H5 + H2O CH3COOH + C2H5OH
Rate = k [CH3COOC2H5]
The concentration of water is very high and thus does not change much during
the course of the reaction.
45
Temperature dependence of reaction rates
The rate constant of most reactions increases with increase in the temperature.
Ea
Arrhenius equation ln k ln A
RT
where, A is the pre-exponential factor and Ea is the activation energy.
A plot of ln k against 1/T is a straight line when the reaction follows the behavior described
by the Arrhenius equation.
The higher the activation energy, the stronger the temperature dependence of the rate
constant (i.e., the steeper the slope).
If a reaction has zero activation energy, its rate is independent of temperature.
46
Temperature dependence of reaction rates
Questions:
1. The rate of the second-order decomposition of acetaldehyde (CH 3CHO) was
measured over the temperature range 700–1000 K, and the rate constants are reported
below. Find Ea and A.
Solution: First convert T in (103) and k into ln k. Now, plot ln k against 1/T. You will
obtain the following graph having slope = -22.7 and intercept 27.7.
47
Temperature dependence of reaction rates
2. The values of rate constants for a reaction are 9.51x10-9 L/mol.s and
1.10x10-5 L/mol.s at temperatures 500K and 600 K respectively. Calculate
the activation energy.
Solution: k2 E 1 1
ln a
k1 R T2 T1
1
k 1 1
Ea R ln 2
k1 T2 T1
48
Energy barrier: interpretation of Arrhenius parameters
Ea
ln k ln A
RT
One can rewrite the above equation as:
Ea
k Ae RT
Collision theory:
1. The rate of a reaction is proportional to the rate of reactant collisions:
2. The reacting species must collide in an orientation that allows contact
between the atoms that will become bonded together in the product.
3. The collision must occur with adequate energy to permit mutual
penetration of the reacting species’ valence shells so that the electrons
can rearrange and form new bonds (and new chemical species).
49
Collision theory
But all the collision will not lead to the product. Only the molecules which
are having sufficient energy (E Ea) can cross the energy barrier.
If the activation energy is much larger than the average kinetic energy of the
molecules, the reaction will occur slowly: Only a few fast-moving molecules
will have enough energy to react.
If the activation energy is much smaller than the average kinetic energy of
the molecules, the fraction of molecules possessing the necessary kinetic
energy will be large; most collisions between molecules will result in
reaction, and the reaction will occur rapidly.
50
Collision theory
52
Collision theory
Quantitatively, for two reactions at the same temperature
The reaction with the higher activation energy has the lower rate constant and the
Ea
slower rate. The larger value of Ea results in a smaller value for
e RT
reflecting the
(a) As the activation energy of a reaction decreases, the number of molecules with at least this much energy increases, as shown
by the shaded areas.
(b) At a higher temperature, T2, more molecules have kinetic energies greater than E a, as shown by the yellow shaded area. 53
Module 1
C. Catalysis
54
Catalysis
The science and technology of catalysis is of great significance as it affects our daily
life. Four major sectors of the world economy; petroleum and energy production,
chemicals and polymer production, food industry and pollution control, involve
catalytic processes.
55
Definition of Catalysis
“A catalyst is a chemical entity which by virtue of its presence in a
reacting system increases or decreases the rate of the reaction, itself
remaining unchanged in chemical properties or mass at the end of a
reaction.”
(3) The catalyst does not change the equilibrium constant but the
equilibrium approaches earlier.
57
Catalytic reactions
Figure: Schematic diagram to illustrate the effect of catalyst on activation energy of reactions. 58
Types of catalysis
1. Heterogeneous catalysis
2. Homogeneous catalysis
3. Enzyme catalysis
59
1. Heterogeneous catalysis
If the catalyst is present in a different phase than the reactants is
called heterogeneous catalyst and the phenomenon is known
heterogeneous catalysis.
(c) Catalysts used in many reactions in the petroleum and polymer industries. There
are cases of heterogeneous catalysis where a reaction in the liquid phase is
catalysed by a substance in the solid state. An example is the decomposition of
H2O2 (aqueous) by MnO2 (s).
(d) Examples of reactions in which both the reactant and the catalyst are in the 61
solid phase. The decomposition of KClO is catalysed by solid MnO .
2. Homogeneous catalysis
In a reaction, if the catalyst is present in the same phase as the
reactants, it is called a homogeneous catalyst and the phenomenon
is homogeneous catalysis. Such catalysis can take place in gaseous
reaction or reactions in solution.
64
D. Enzyme catalysis
Michaelis-Menton mechanism
65
Enzymes
Enzymes are protein-based molecules that can process
certain chemical reactions
Substrate is the molecule that fits into the active site of the
enzyme and undergoes transformation to a product.
H2O2 → H2O + O2
Molecular structure of Catalase
Reaction catalysed by the enzyme, catalase
66
Mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed reactions
Enzyme-catalyzed reactions work
in a lock and key fashion.
67
Enzymes’ effect on the activation energy
Enzymes lower the activation energy for reactions. The
lower the activation energy, the faster the rate of the
reactions.
E+S ES P+E
68
Michaelis-Menten equation
Michaelis-Menten equation is a commonly used model that assumes that the concentration of the
enzyme remains constant.
The enzyme reacts with the substrate to form an enzyme-substrate complex, which leads to the
synthesis of the product and the release of the enzyme
ka kb
E+S ES P+E
ka ’
Where, ka is the rate of formation of ES, ka’ is the rate of dissociation of ES, and kb is the rate of
formation of P from ES.
69
Michaelis-Menten Mechanism
One of the earliest descriptions of the action of enzymes is the Michaelis-Menten mechanism. The
proposed mechanism, with all species in an aqueous environment, is as follows.
Step 1: The bimolecular formation of a combination, ES, of the enzyme E and the substrate S:
E + S → ES Rate of formation of ES = ka[E][S]
Step 3: The unimolecular formation of products P and the release of the enzyme from its combination
with the substrate:
ES → P + E
70
Derivation
Since the product P is formed irreversibly, according to the rate law, the rate of formation of the product P
is
Rate of formation of P = kb[ES]
Since the net rate of formation of [ES] is zero, we can write the following:
𝑘𝑎 [ 𝐸 ] [ 𝑆]
So, [ 𝐸𝑆]= ′
𝑘𝑎 +𝑘𝑏
However, [E] and [S] are the molar concentrations of the free enzyme and free substrate. If [E]0 is the total
concentration of enzyme, then [E] + [ES] = [E]0 and we can replace [E] in this expression by [E] 0 − [ES].
Therefore,
𝑘𝑎([ 𝐸]0 −[𝐸𝑆])[ 𝑆]
[𝐸𝑆 ]= ′
𝑘𝑎+𝑘𝑏
71
Derivation
Multiplication by (ka′+kb) gives first 𝑘′𝑎 [ 𝐸𝑆 ] + 𝑘𝑏 [ 𝐸𝑆 ] =𝑘𝑎 [ 𝐸 ]0 [ 𝑆 ] −𝑘𝑎 [ 𝐸𝑆 ][ 𝑆]
{ }
′
Division by ka turns this expression into 𝑘𝑎 +𝑘𝑏
+ [ 𝑆 ] [ 𝐸𝑆 ]=[ 𝐸 ] 0 [ 𝑆 ]
+𝑘𝑎
We recognize the first term inside the parentheses as KM, so this expression rearranges to
[ 𝐸] 0 [ 𝑆]
[ 𝐸𝑆]= {1.1}
[𝑆]+ 𝐾 𝑀
𝑘′𝑎+ 𝑘𝑏
𝐾 𝑀= {1.2}
+𝑘𝑎
72
Derivation
The rate law for the rate of formation of product in terms of the concentrations of enzyme and substrate
turns out to be
Rate of formation of P = kb[ES] = kr[ES]0
According to eqn 1.3, the rate of enzymolysis is first-order in the added enzyme concentration, but the
effective rate constant k depends on the concentration of substrate. We can infer from eqn 1.3 that:
When [S] << KM, the effective rate constant is equal to kb[S]/KM. Therefore, the rate increases linearly
with [S] at low concentrations.
When [S] >> KM, the effective rate constant is equal to kb, and the rate law in eqn 1.3 reduces to
Rate of formation of P = kb[E]0
73
Conditions for maximum and minimum
velocities
When [S] << KM, the effective rate constant is equal to
kb[S]/KM. Therefore, the rate increases linearly with [S] at
low concentrations.
74
Maximum velocity-Vmax
When [S] >> KM, the rate is independent of the concentration of S because there is so much substrate
present that it remains at effectively the same concentration even though products are being formed.
Under these conditions, the rate of formation of product is a maximum, and kb[E]0 is called the maximum
velocity, vmax, of the enzymolysis:
𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =𝑘𝑏 [ 𝐸 ] 0 {1.4}
The rate-determining step is Step 3: the decomposition of ES to form P, because there is ample ES present
(because S is so abundant), and the rate is determined by the rate at which ES reacts to form the product.
It follows from eqns 1.1 and 1.4 that the reaction rate v at a general substrate composition is related to the
maximum velocity by
[ 𝑆] 𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑣= {1.5}
[ 𝑆]+ 𝐾 𝑀
75
Lineweaver-Burk Plot
If we take the reciprocal on both sides of eqn 1.5, it becomes,
1 [ 𝑆 ]+ 𝐾 𝑀
= =
1
𝑣 [ 𝑆] 𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥
+
𝐾𝑀
{ }1
𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 [ 𝑆]
y intercept slope x
Eqn. 1.6 is the basis for the analysis of enzyme kinetic data using a Lineweaver-Burk Plot, a graph of 1/v
(the reciprocal of the reaction rate) against 1/[S] (the reciprocal of the substrate concentration).
76
Lineweaver-Burk Plot
The intercept of the extrapolated (dotted) straight line with the
horizontal axis is used to obtain the Michaelis constant, KM.
77
Catalytic constant & efficiency
The turnover frequency, or catalytic constant, of an enzyme, kcat, is the number of catalytic cycles
(turnovers) performed by the active site in a given interval divided by the duration of the interval.
This quantity has units of a first-order rate constant and, in terms of the Michaelis–Menten mechanism, is
numerically equivalent to kb, the rate constant for release of product from the enzyme–substrate complex.
So, it follows that,
𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑘𝑐𝑎𝑡 =𝑘 𝑏 = {1.7}
[ 𝐸 ]0
The catalytic efficiency, η (eta), of an enzyme is the ratio kcat /KM. The higher the value of η, the more
efficient is the enzyme. We can think of the catalytic activity as the effective rate constant of the enzymatic
reaction.
𝑘𝑐𝑎𝑡 𝑘𝑎 𝑘𝑏
η= = {1.8}
𝐾 𝑀 𝑘′𝑎+𝑘 𝑏
78
Sample problem
The enzyme carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the hydration of CO2 in red blood cells to give bicarbonate
(hydrogen carbonate) ion:
CO2(g) + H2O(l) → HCO3-(aq) + H+(aq)
The following data were obtained for the reaction at pH=7.1, 273.5 K and an enzyme concentration of 2.3
nmol dm-3
79
Contd.
We construct a Lineweaver-Burk plot by drawing a table of 1/[S] and 1][v]. The intercept at 1/[S]=0 is vmax
and the slope of the line through the points is KM/vmax. So, KM is found from the slope divided by the
intercept. From eqn 1.7, and the enzyme concentration, we calculate kcat and the catalytic efficiency from
eqn 1.8
80
Contd.
81
Conversion factors needed
1 cm3 = 1 mL
100 cm = 1 m
1000 mL = 1 L
100 cm = 1 m
(100 cm)3 = (1 m)3
1,000,000 cm3 = 1 m3
since 1 cm3 = 1 mL
1 m3 = 1,000,000 mL or 106 mL
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