Redox Reactions

Question 1

Inner sphere

Answer 1

Transfer of electrons via covalently bonded bridging ligand, good bridges have additional electrons which allow simultaneous binding

Question 2

Steps of inner sphere electron transfer

Answer 2

Bridge formation
Electron transfer
Bridge cleavage

Question 3

RDS of inner sphere electron transfer

Answer 3

If bridge formation = RDS = slow relative to electron transfer, like dissociative loss of Y so depends on Y
If electron transfer = RDS = slow relative to bridge formation, k depends on X, different ligands more ‘conductive’ for electron transfer

Question 4

Outer sphere electron transfer

Answer 4

Electron transfer at long range with no covalent linkage

Question 5

Characteristics of outer sphere electron transfer

Answer 5

Has energy barrier and slow rate

Question 6

Outer sphere electron transfer stages

Answer 6

Reversible formation of loosely bonded outer-sphere complex
Reversible electron transfer
Irreversible dissociation then diffusion

Question 7

Outer sphere electron transfer RDS

Answer 7

If electron transfer then sufficient energy needed to process due to solvent reorganisation, charge dependent electrostatic repulsion or distortion of bond lengths to get correct geometry for electron transfer