Question

Inversion of cane sugar is a:

• A. Zero order reaction
• B. Pseudo first order reaction
• C. Second order reaction
• D. Third order reaction

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Inversion of cane sugar is a chemical process where sucrose is hydrolyzed into glucose and fructose in the presence of an acid. The reaction is catalyzed by an acid and is given by the equation: 

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + C₆H₁₂O₆

In this reaction, the concentration of water remains constant because it is present in excess. This transforms the reaction's kinetics from being second-order to first-order concerning the concentration of sucrose. Since the reaction behaves kinetically as a first-order reaction when it is actually not, it is termed a pseudo-first-order reaction.

The correct answer is: Pseudo first order reaction

Answer 2

Inversion of cane sugar is a type of pseudo-first-order reaction that occurs in the presence of excess water. This reaction involves the hydrolysis of sucrose (cane sugar) into its constituent monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, when treated with an acid or enzyme. The reaction can be represented as:

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + C₆H₁₂O₆

Although the reaction is technically a second-order reaction (due to the involvement of both sucrose and water), the presence of excess water makes its concentration effectively constant throughout the reaction. As a result, the reaction behaves like a pseudo-first-order reaction, where the rate is dependent only on the concentration of sucrose.

In a pseudo-first-order reaction, the rate law is simplified to the form: Rate = k[A], where [A] is the concentration of the reactant (sucrose) and k is the rate constant. This simplification allows the reaction to be treated as if it were first-order with respect to sucrose, even though the actual reaction order is higher.

This concept is commonly observed in many reactions where one reactant is present in excess, making it effectively constant during the course of the reaction.