Understanding Laws of Logs: How to Derive Chemistry Kinetics Equation

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The discussion focuses on the derivation of the chemistry kinetics equation [A] = [A]_{0}*e^{-kt} from the logarithmic form. A participant expresses confusion over the transformation, mistakenly arriving at [A] = [A]_{0} - e^{-kt}. The correct approach involves applying the exponential function to both sides after isolating ln[A]. By using the property of logarithms, the equation simplifies to [A]/[A]_{0} = e^{-kt}, leading to the correct multiplication form. The key takeaway is the importance of correctly applying exponential functions in logarithmic equations.
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I'm reading about how the chemistry kinetics equations are derived and here's something I don't get. How does this:
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_IV/Organische_Chemie/Didaktik/Keusch/Grafik/ord1-6.gif
get turned into this:
[A] = [A]_{0}*e^{-kt}?
When I try to derive it, I first get this:
ln[A] - ln[A]_{0} = -kt.
Then I isolate ln[A] and get:
ln[A] = ln[A]_{0} - kt
then I reverse the ln on both sides of the equation and get:
[A] = [A]_{0} - e^{-kt}.
I don't understand how the two terms end up multiplied rather than subtracted.
 
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mycotheology said:
I'm reading about how the chemistry kinetics equations are derived and here's something I don't get. How does this:
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_IV/Organische_Chemie/Didaktik/Keusch/Grafik/ord1-6.gif
get turned into this:
[A] = [A]_{0}*e^{-kt}?
When I try to derive it, I first get this:
ln[A] - ln[A]_{0} = -kt.
Then I isolate ln[A] and get:
ln[A] = ln[A]_{0} - kt
then I reverse the ln on both sides of the equation and get:
[A] = [A]_{0} - e^{-kt}.
I don't understand how the two terms end up multiplied rather than subtracted.

The red part is the wrong part.
By reverse you use e as a index for exponentiation, so let's say :
ln a = ln b - c
e^(ln a) = e^(ln b - c)
u got your exponentialtion wrong.
 
mycotheology said:
I'm reading about how the chemistry kinetics equations are derived and here's something I don't get. How does this:
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_IV/Organische_Chemie/Didaktik/Keusch/Grafik/ord1-6.gif
get turned into this:
[A] = [A]_{0}*e^{-kt}?
When I try to derive it, I first get this:
ln[A] - ln[A]_{0} = -kt.
Then I isolate ln[A] and get:
ln[A] = ln[A]_{0} - kt
then I reverse the ln on both sides of the equation and get:
[A] = [A]_{0} - e^{-kt}.
I don't understand how the two terms end up multiplied rather than subtracted.

The easiest method to see this is to apply the exponential to each side.

##
\begin{eqnarray*}
\displaystyle ln\frac{[A]}{[A]_0} &=& -kt\\
\displaystyle e^{ln\frac{[A]}{[A]_0}}&=& e^{-kt}\\
\displaystyle \frac{[A]}{[A]_0} &=& e^{-kt}\\
\displaystyle [A] &=& [A]_0 e^{-kt}\\
\end{eqnarray*}
##
 
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