Addis Ababa Science and Technology
College of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department
Reaction Engineering I - Reaction Kinetics
Worksheet One, Chapter Two
1. Saponification Reaction: In a batch reactor, ethyl acetate (CH3COOC2H5) reacts with sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) in a liquid-liquid reaction to form sodium acetate (CH3COONa) and
ethanol (C2H5OH) both in liquid phase. The reaction is:
CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH → CH3COONa + C2H5OH
A B C D
A batch reactor is initially charged with 200 moles of ethyl acetate and 300 moles of NaOH. If the
final mole of ethyl acetate is 50 moles,
a) Calculate the extent of the reaction (ξ)
b) Determine the conversion (X)
c) Determine the number of moles of all species at the exit of the reactor
2. Synthesis Reaction: In a Plug flow reactor (PFR), nitrogen (N2) reacts with hydrogen (H2) to
form ammonia (NH3) according to the reaction:
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
A B C
The steady-state feed to the reactor consists of 100 moles/hr of N2 and 300 moles/hr of H2. The
conversion of N2 is 75%.
a) Calculate the extent of the reaction (ξ)
b) Determine the molar flow rates of all species in the reactor outlet.
3. Esterification Reaction: Acetic acid reacts with ethanol to produce ethyl acetate and water in
a batch reactor. The reaction follows:
Academic Year: 2025/26
CH3COOH(l) + C2H5OH(l) → CH3COOC2H5(l) + H2O(l)
A B C D
A batch reactor initially contains 100 moles of acetic acid and 150 moles of ethanol.
a) Identify the basis for calculation (limiting reactant).
b) Find the number of moles of all species when 95% of the limiting reactant goes to products.
c) Calculate the initial mole fractions
d) Calculate the mole fractions at 95% conversion
e) If the reactor volume is 50 L, find the concentration of all species at 95% conversion is
achieved.
4. Neutralization Reaction: In waste water treatment plants of chemical industries, most of the
time acidic wastewater is neutralized by adding bases (sodium hydroxide), and at the same
time, alkaline wastewater is neutralized by adding acids (sulfuric acid). The reaction takes
place in CSTR.
H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
A B C D
If the feed rate consists of 2000 moles/hr of H2SO4 and 2400 moles/hr of NaOH, and the
volumetric flow rate is 200 L/hr into the reactor.
a) Find the molar flow rates for all participants at 60% conversion.
b) Find the concentrations for all species at 60% conversion.
c) Find the mole fractions for all species at the feed stream.
d) Find the mole fractions for all species at 60% conversion.
[Hint: First, identify the basis for calculation (limiting reactant)]
5. Oxidation Reaction: In chemical industries, methane is produced and is more highly pollutant
to the environment than carbon dioxide. For this reason, most of the time methane is oxidized
and converted to carbon dioxide and water vapor in the following reaction, which occurs in a
plug flow reactor:
Academic Year: 2025/26
CH4(g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O(g)
A B C D
Initially, there are 500 moles/min of methane and 6000 moles/min of air (containing 20% oxygen
and 80% nitrogen by mole basis) with a volumetric flow rate of 100L/min. Assuming the reactor
is isothermal with no pressure drop:
a) Find the final molar flow rates of each species.
b) Find the initial and final mole fractions of each species.
c) Find the final concentrations of each species.
All calculations are based on a conversion of 90%. [Hint: First, identify the basis for calculation
(limiting reactant)]
6. Oxidation Reaction (Sulfur Trioxide Production in a Plug Flow Reactor)
Sulfur trioxide (SO3) is the primary raw material used in the industrial production of sulfuric acid.
It is synthesized by the catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO3) in a plug flow reactor (PFR)
according to the following gas-phase reaction:
2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g)
A B C
The reactor is fed with 1000 kmol/h of pure sulfur dioxide and 4000 kmol/h of air (containing
20 mol% O2 and 80 mol% N2). The inlet volumetric flow rate is 500 m³/h. Assume the reactor
operates under isothermal conditions with negligible pressure drop.
Determine the exit concentrations (in kmol/m³) of all species (SO2, O2, SO3, and N2) when the
conversion of the limiting reactant reaches 95%. Assignment
7. Decomposition Reaction (Ammonia Decomposition in a Plug Flow Reactor)
Ammonia (NH3) serves as an efficient hydrogen carrier for energy applications due to its high
hydrogen content and ease of storage/transportation. Hydrogen is produced by the catalytic
decomposition of ammonia in a plug flow reactor (PFR) according to the following gas-phase
reaction:
Academic Year: 2025/26
2NH3(g) → N2(g) + 3H2(g)
A B C
Pure ammonia is fed to the reactor at a molar flow rate of 2000 mol/h with an inlet volumetric
flow rate of 20,000 L/h. Assume isothermal operation and negligible pressure drop throughout
the reactor.
Calculate the exit molar flow rates (mol/h) and exit concentrations (mol/L) of all species (NH₃,
N₂, and H₂) when the conversion of ammonia reaches 99%. Assignment
Assignment Due Date: One week after the tutorial class covering this worksheet.
Academic Year: 2025/26