3.1.9: Rate equations

Question 1

What is the order of a reaction (n)?

Answer 1

the power in which the concentration of the reactant is raised in a rate equation

Question 2

What is the overall order of a reaction?

Answer 2

the total sum of all the powers of the reactants or products
- must be found experimentally, can’t be found by looking at the equation
- therefore, rate equation only found by experiment

Question 3

What are the different orders of a reaction?

Answer 3

• zero order (n=0)- the reaction rate proportional to [A]^0=1, rate not affected by change in [A]
• first order (n=1)- the reaction rate is proportional to [A]
• second order (n=1)- the reaction rate is proportional to [A]^2

Question 4

What is the rate equation?

Answer 4

rate= k[A]m[B]^n
- k= rate constant