A physical chemistry laboratory experiment is described in which proton and deuteron FT-NMR spectra are used to determine the equilibrium constant for the isotope exchange reaction
DCl + HBr <==> DBr + HCl
The measurement illustrates an unusual gas phase application of NMR spectroscopy. The results are in good accord with a 297K value of Kp = 0.818, calculated from statistical thermodynamics using vibrational-rotational constants. The latter can be taken from the literature or can be conveniently determined in a high resolution FTIR experiment commonly done in most physical chemistry laboratories.
More Information
Citation
Nibler, Joseph W.; Minarik, Philip; Fitts, William; Kohnert, Rodger. J. Chem. Educ.1996 73 99.
Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.