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Q.The half life of a first order reaction is 0.5 min. Calculate time needed for the reactant to reduce to 20% and the amount decomposed in 55 s.

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Step 1. k = 0.693/t1/2 = 0.693/0.5 min = 1.386 min^-1.

Step 2. For the reactant to fall to 20% of its initial value, [A]0/[A]t = 1/0.2 = 5. Using k = (2.303/t) log10([A]0/[A]t): t = (2.303/k) log10(5) = (2.303/1.386) x 0.6990 = 1.6624 x 0.6990 = 1.162 min (about 69.7 s).

Step 3. For the amount decomposed in 55 s = 0.9167 min: log10([A]0/[A]t) = kt/2.303 = (1.386 x 0.9167)/2.303 = 1.2706/2.303 = 0.5516. So [A]0/[A]t = antilog(0.5516) = 3.562, giving [A]t/[A]0 = 1/3.562 = 0.2808 (28.1% remaining). …

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