DECOMPOSITION OF AZOMETHANE

Review

Overall Reaction	AZO → C2H6 + N2
Experimental Rate Law (at low [AZO])	+d[N2]/dt = ka[AZO]2
Proposed Mechanism
Overall Rate of Production of (Azomethane)*	d[AZO*]/dt = + k1[AZO]2 - k-1[AZO][AZO*] - k2[AZO*]
Rate of Production of Nitrogen in the 1st Elementary Step	(d[N2]/dt)1 = 0

And similarly, since Nitrogen does not appear as a reactant or product in the 2nd elementary step:

(d[N₂]/dt)₂ = 0

Rate of Production of Nitrogen in the Third Elementary Step {+(d[N₂]/dt)₃}

For the third elementary step,

the rate of production of Nitrogen would be

+d[N₂]/dt = -k₂[AZO*]

+d[N₂]/dt = +k₂[AZO*]

+d[N₂]/dt = -k₂[N₂]

+d[N₂]/dt = +k₂[N₂]

+d[N₂]/dt = -k₂[C₂H₆][N₂]

+d[N₂]/dt = +k₂[C₂H₆][N₂]