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Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics
All textbooksTro 4th EditionCh.14 - Chemical KineticsProblem 46
Chapter 14, Problem 46

The tabulated data were collected for this reaction: CH3Cl(g) + 3 Cl2(g) → CCl4( g) + 3 HCl(g)
Table showing concentrations of reactants and initial reaction rates for chemical kinetics.
Write an expression for the reaction rate law and calculate the value of the rate constant, k. What is the overall order of the reaction?

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1
Identify the general form of the rate law for the reaction: rate = k[A]^m[B]^n.
Use the data from the table to set up ratios of the rates and concentrations to determine the reaction orders m and n.
Compare experiments 1 and 2 where [B] is constant to find the order with respect to [A].
Compare experiments 1 and 3 where [A] is constant to find the order with respect to [B].
Once the orders m and n are determined, use any set of data from the table to solve for the rate constant k.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Rate Law

The rate law expresses the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction and the concentration of its reactants. It is typically formulated as rate = k[A]^m[B]^n, where k is the rate constant, [A] and [B] are the concentrations of the reactants, and m and n are the reaction orders with respect to each reactant. Determining the rate law involves analyzing experimental data to find the values of m and n.
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Rate Law Fundamentals

Order of Reaction

The order of a reaction is the sum of the exponents in the rate law expression. It indicates how the rate of reaction is affected by the concentration of the reactants. A reaction can be zero, first, second, or higher order, depending on the values of m and n. Understanding the order helps predict how changes in concentration will influence the reaction rate.
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Rate Constant (k)

The rate constant, k, is a proportionality factor in the rate law that is specific to a particular reaction at a given temperature. It reflects the speed of the reaction and is influenced by factors such as temperature and the presence of catalysts. To calculate k, one can rearrange the rate law using known concentrations and initial rates from experimental data.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Consider the tabulated data showing the initial rate of a reaction (A → products) at several different concentrations of A. What is the order of the reaction? Write a rate law for the reaction including the value of the rate constant, k.

Textbook Question

Indicate the order of reaction consistent with each observation. a. A plot of the concentration of the reactant versus time yields a straight line. Indicate the order of reaction consistent with each observation b. The reaction has a half-life that is independent of initial concentration. c. A plot of the inverse of the concentration versus time yields a straight line.

Textbook Question

Indicate the order of reaction consistent with each observation.

a. The half-life of the reaction gets shorter as the initial concentration is increased.

b. A plot of the natural log of the concentration of the reactant versus time yields a straight line.

Textbook Question

Indicate the order of reaction consistent with each observation c. The half-life of the reaction gets longer as the initial concentration is increased.