Also how would you find the average constant?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the rate law and average rate constant for a chemical reaction involving three reactants based on experimental data from multiple trials. The participants analyze the relationship between reactant concentrations and reaction rates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore how to derive the rate law from given concentration and rate data, questioning the order of reaction with respect to each reactant. They discuss comparing rates from different trials where concentrations of certain reactants remain constant while others change.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on how to approach the problem, including suggestions for selecting trials to isolate variables. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the data on the reaction order for each reactant, with various interpretations being considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need to clarify assumptions about the constancy of temperature and the behavior of the rate constant across trials. The original poster expresses uncertainty about the reaction order and the calculation of the average rate constant.

courtrigrad
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Hello

If we have a number of trials, and are given the concentration of 3 reactants is this how you would find the rate law? Also how would you find the average constant?

[tex]1 : 0.001 \ \ 0.1 \ \ 0.2 \ \ 1.2 \times 10^{-6}[/tex]
[tex]2 : 0.001 \ \ 0.4 \ \ 0.2 \ \ 0.48\times 10^{-5}[/tex]
[tex]3 : 0.003 \ \ 0.1 \ \ 0.2 \ \ 108\times 10^{-7}[/tex]
[tex]4 : 0.003 \ \ 0.4 \ \ 0.4 \ \ 86.4 \times 10^{-6}[/tex]


The 4 numbers are the # of trials, and the three numbers beside them are the concentration of the three reactants. The last number is the rate in [tex]mol/L*s[/tex]


So using the rate law [tex]k[A]^{m}<b>^{n}[C]^{z} </b>[/tex] I know that in trial 1 the rate goes down by a factor of [tex]1/4[/tex]. A and C are the same but B changes. Does that mean B's reaction order is 1/4?
Any help in trying to find the average value of the rate constant and the rate law would be appreciated.

Thanks :smile:
 
Last edited:
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would i have to compare rates from three experiments?
 
You were close, just one manipulation, and one final step to get the answer.

When trying to find the rate law pick the two trials where the concentrations of two of the substances stay the same and only one changes then solve for the rate law by taking the ln of the solution.

[tex]\frac{rate2}{rate1}=\frac{k[A]^x <b>^y [C]^z}{k[A]^x <b>^y [C]^z}</b></b>[/tex]

Say we take runs 1 and 2 where the 1st (A) and 3rd (C) reactant concentrations stay the same so we can just cancel out the A's, C's and k's: the reaction constant is the same at constant temperature which we are assuming with the experimental data:

[tex]\frac{1.2\times{10^-6}}{0.48\times{10^-5}}=\frac{(0.1)^y}{(0.4)^y}[/tex]

One of the rules of exponents allows us to simplify the right side:

[tex]0.25=(0.25)^y[/tex]

Finally take the ln of both sides to bring down the unknown y and solve for the rate order value for the "B" concentration.

[tex]ln(0.25)=yln(0.25)[/tex]
[tex]y = 1[/tex]
 
I believe that because from Trial 1 to Trial 2, goes down 1/4th while A and C remain constant, and the rate also changes by a factor of 1/4th, this means that is zeroth order in relation to the rate constant, so I believe that you can strike it from your rate law; meaning that the rate law will now only depend on A and C.

If I am on the right track, let me advise you to use that knowledge to find the exponents for A and C. Hint: for [C] look at Trials 3 and 4 and apply your knowledge of the rate laws.

Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I did rate of reactions, so I may be a little fuzzy.

-Art

EDIT: Hrmph never mind then, I must be incorrect. bross, good solution
 
so would the reaction equation be [tex]{k[A]^0 <b>^1 [C]^0} </b>[/tex] making it an overall order of 1? How do you find k? k would be 1 because it cancels out and has no effect on the reaction?
 
Last edited:
To find the rate order of A and C you have to repeat the same process as you did for B using the rates where B and C stay the same, to find A, and A and B stay the same, to find C.

Then to find the rate constant k, just take anyone of the three trials and sub the data into the equation you have found as the only unknown is k.
 
Artermis said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I did rate of reactions, so I may be a little fuzzy.
You're right that you're wrong ! :wink:

courtigrad : you have 4 equations in 4 unknowns, so you should be able to solve them.

There's a simple way, by inspection, that will work. You just have to choose the right lines to compare. From bross' work, you know that the rate is linear (first order) in ; meaning that when you double or triple , the rate will correspondingly double or triple.

Next compare lines 1 and 3. What concentrations change between these trials ? By what factor ? And how does this change the rate ? So, what can you tell from this ?
 

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