Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition of N₂O₅

Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition of N₂O₅

The decomposition of N₂O₅ is shown as-
2N₂O₅ → 4NO₂ + O₂
It involves two molecules of N₂O₅ and therefore, can not follow 1st order kinetics. The possible mechanism is given below-

NO₃ and NO are unstable intermediates. Using steady state approximation we have-

Putting the value of [NO₃] and [NO] in the above equation we get-

Where K' = 2K₁K₃/(K₂ + K₃)

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