Entropy

Question 1

By considering both the thermodynamic stability and the kinetic inertness of a mixture hydrogen and oxygen, explain why hydrogen does not react with oxygen unless ignited.
[6CH04/01 June 13 q17d]

Answer 1

A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is thermodynamically unstable because ∆Stotal is positive
OR
Reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is thermodynamically feasible because ∆Stotal is positive
ALLOW ∆S for ∆Stotal (1) No TE on negative ∆Stotal from (c)
The mixture is kinetically inert /stable or reaction is (very) slow because the activation energy is (very) high (1)
Mixture / reaction is kinetically inert / stable but thermodynamically unstable / feasible scores 1 mark