5.1.1 rates of reaction Flashcards
what is the rate of reaction?
the change in concentration of a reactant or a product in a given time
what is the order of reaction?
the power to which the concentration of a reactant is raised in the rate equation
what is the overall order?
the sum of individual orders of reactants in the rate equation
what is zero order?
the concentration of a reactant has no effect on the rate
what is first order?
a reaction is first order with respect to a reactant when the rate depends on its concentration raised to the power of one
what is second order?
a reaction is second order with respect to a reactant when the rate depends on its concentration raised to the power of two
rate equation for reaction: A + B → C with orders x for A and n for B
rate = k [A]ˣ [B]ⁿ
how are orders of reactions found?
from experimental results - compare concentration change with change in initial rate
what is shape of a concentration-time graph for a zero order reaction?
a straight line with a negative gradient
- the value of the gradient is equal to the rate constant k
what is shape of a concentration-time graph for a first order reaction?
a downward curve with a decreasing gradient
- the time for the concentration of the reactant to halve is constant (constant half lives)
what is shape of a concentration-time graph for a second order reaction?
a downward curve with a decreasing gradient, steeper than the downward curve of a first order reaction
what is a half-life?
the time taken for the concentration of a reactant to decrease by half
how to determine k for a first order reaction? method 1
calculating the rate constant from the rate
- tangent to curve is drawn
- gradient of tangent is calculated = rate
- k calculated by rearranging the rate equation
how to determine k for a first order reaction? method 2
calculating the rate constant from the half-life
- uses exponential relationship for a constant half-life
- k = ln2 / t(half-life)
what is shape of a rate-concentration graph for a zero order reaction?
a horizontal straight line with no gradient
- y intercept gives rate constant k
- reaction rate doesn’t change with increasing concentration