Q.(a) A first order reaction has a rate constant 1.15x10^-3 s^-1. How long will 5 g of this reactant take to reduce to 3 g? [3]
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →(a) Use the first-order integrated rate law t = (2.303/k) log([A]0/[A]) with [A]0=5 g, [A]=3 g. (b) List the standard factors governing reaction rate. OR: (a) match rate-constant units to reaction order (s^-1 -> first order; mol L^-1 s^-1 -> zero order). (b) Algebraically compare t(99.9%) and t(1/2) for a first-order reaction.
(a) For a first order reaction, the integrated rate law is:
k = (2.303/t) log([A]0/[A]t)
so t = (2.303/k) log([A]0/[A]t)
Here [A]0 = 5 g, [A]t = 3 g, k = 1.15 x 10^-3 s^-1 (since it is a ratio, the initial and remaining amounts can be used directly in place of concentrations, as the volume/units cancel).
t = (2.303 / 1.15x10^-3) x log(5/3)
= 2002.6 x log(1.667)
= 2002.6 x 0.2218
= 444.2 s (approximately 444 seconds, i.e. about 7.4 minutes).
(b) The rate of a chemical reaction is affected by several factors:
- Concentration of reactants - rate generally increases as concentration of reactants increases (more effective collisions per unit time).
- Temperature - rate increases with temperature (more molecules attain the activation energy; Arrhenius relationship).
- Presence of a catalyst - a catalyst provides an alternative pathway of lower activation energy, increasing the rate without itself being consumed.
- Surface area of reactants - for reactions involving solids, a greater surface area (finely powdered solid) increases the rate by increasing the area of contact.
- Nature of the reactants - the physical/chemical nature of reactants (e.g. ionic vs covalent, bond strengths) affects how fast a reaction proceeds.
- Exposure to radiation/light - certain reactions (photochemical reactions) are accelerated by exposure to light of appropriate intensity/wavelength.
OR (alternative):
(a) The unit of the rate constant k reveals the overall order of a reaction, because rate = k[conc.]^n, and rate always has units of concentration/time (e.g. mol L^-1 s^-1).
- If k has units of Mol L^-1 s^-1 (i.e. the same units as rate itself, with no concentration term left over), the reaction is zero order (rate = k, independent of concentration).
- If k has units of s^-1 (reciprocal time only, no concentration units), the reaction is first order. …
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