Welcome to the beautiful intersection of chemical kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics! This problem is a masterpiece from JEE Advanced that tests your ability to read a graph, set up an equilibrium state, and seamlessly transition into the abstract world of Gibbs Free Energy. Let's break it down step by step.
Decoding the Graph
The Story of Equilibrium
The graph provided is a visual story of a chemical reaction approaching its final destination: equilibrium. The x-axis represents time, and the y-axis represents the concentration of our product, P.
Notice how the curves rise steeply at first but eventually flatten out into horizontal lines? That flattening is the hallmark of equilibrium. It means the forward and backward reaction rates have become equal, and the macroscopic concentration of P has stopped changing.
By simply reading the asymptotes of the graph, we can extract crucial data:
- At temperature T1, the equilibrium concentration is [P]eq=4 M.
- At temperature T2, the equilibrium concentration is [P]eq=2 M.
The ICE Table
Uncovering the Hidden Reactant
We know the equilibrium concentration of the product, but to find the equilibrium constant K, we also need the equilibrium concentration of the reactant, A.
The reaction is a simple 1:1 stoichiometry: A(g)⇌P(g).
We are told the reaction happens in a 1-litre flask with an initial 6 moles of A. This makes our initial concentration [A]0=6 M. Because 1 mole of A reacts to form 1 mole of P, the amount of A that disappears is exactly equal to the amount of P that appears.
Therefore, at equilibrium, the concentration of A is simply the initial amount minus what reacted:
[A]eq=6−[P]eq
Calculating the Equilibrium Constants
Now, let's calculate the equilibrium constants for both temperatures. The equilibrium constant K is the ratio of the product concentration to the reactant concentration.
For Temperature T1:
- [P]eq=4 M
- [A]eq=6−4=2 M
- K1=24=2
For Temperature T2:
- [P]eq=2 M
- [A]eq=6−2=4 M
- K2=42=21
The Master Equation
Enter Gibbs Free Energy
How do we connect these macroscopic equilibrium constants to the fundamental thermodynamic driving force of the reaction? We use the legendary master equation:
Let's plug in our calculated K values for both temperatures:
- ΔG1⊖=−RT1ln2
- ΔG2⊖=−RT2ln(21)
Remember a handy property of logarithms: ln(1/x)=−lnx. Therefore, ln(1/2)=−ln2. This transforms our second equation into:
- ΔG2⊖=RT2ln2
The Final Algebraic Symphony
We are given a crucial constraint in the problem: T1=2T2. Let's substitute this into our expression for ΔG1⊖ to get everything in terms of T2:
ΔG1⊖=−R(2T2)ln2=−2RT2ln2
The question asks us to evaluate the expression (ΔG2⊖−ΔG1⊖). Let's perform the subtraction carefully:
ΔG2⊖−ΔG1⊖=RT2ln2−(−2RT2ln2)
ΔG2⊖−ΔG1⊖=3RT2ln2
To match the format given in the question (RT2lnx), we need to move the coefficient 3 inside the logarithm. Using the power rule of logarithms (alnb=ln(ba)), we get:
3RT2ln2=RT2ln(23)=RT2ln8
Comparing this magnificent result to the given expression RT2lnx, it is crystal clear that x=8.