Chapter 6.3

Question 1

Compare a kinetic product formation to a thermodynamic product formation

Answer 1

• at lower temperatures, a kinetic product is formed
• > the free energy that must be added for a kinetic pathway to form products is lower than that of a thermodynamic pathway
• > therefore, kinetic products form faster but they are less stable and a more positive Gibbs free energy
• > also smaller difference between the gibbs free energy of the product state and the transition state
• at higher temperatures, a thermodynamic product is formed
• > the free energy of the thermodynamic product is significantly lower than that of the kinetic product
• > therefore, thermodynamic products are associated with greater stability
• > greater stability= more negative Gibbs free energy