The rate equation relates mathematically the rate of reaction to the concentration of the reactants. For the following reaction, aA + bB products, the generalised rate equation is: r = k[A]m[B]n r is used as symbol for rate The unit of r is usually mol dm-3 s -1 The square brackets [A] means the concentration of A (unit mol dm-3 ) k is called the rate constant m, n are called reaction orders Orders are usually integers 0,1,2 0 means the reaction is zero order with respect to that reactant 1 means first order 2 means second order NOTE: the orders have nothing to do with the stoichiometric coefficients in the balanced equation. They are worked out experimentally The total order for a reaction is worked out by adding all the individual orders together (m+n) For zero order: the concentration of A has no effect on the rate of reaction r = k[A]0 = k For first order: the rate of reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of A r = k[A]1 For second order: the rate of reaction is proportional to the concentration of A squared r = k[A]2 The rate constant (k) 1. The units of k depend on the overall order of reaction. It must be worked out from the rate equation 2. The value of k is independent of concentration and time. It is constant at a fixed temperature. 3. The value of k refers to a specific temperature and it increases if we increase temperature For a 1st order overall reaction the unit of k is s -1 For a 2nd order overall reaction the unit of k is mol-1dm3s -1 For a 3rd order overall reaction the unit of k is mol-2dm6s -1 Example (first order overall) Rate = k[A][B]0 m = 1 and n = 0 – reaction is first order in A and zero order in B – overall order = 1 + 0 = 1 – usually written: Rate = k[A] Remember: the values of the reaction orders must be determined from experiment; they cannot be found by looking at the balanced reaction equation Calculating units of k 1. Rearrange rate equation to give k as subject k = Rate [A] 2. Insert units and cancel k = mol dm-3s -1 mol dm-3 Unit of k = s-1 N Goalby chemrevise.org 1 Example: Write rate equation for reaction between A and B where A is 1st order and B is 2nd order. r = k[A][B]2 overall order is 3 Calculate the unit of k Unit of k = mol-2dm6s -1. 1. Rearrange rate equation to give k as subject k = Rate [A][B]2 2. Insert units and cancel k = mol dm-3s -1 mol dm-3 .(moldm-3 )2 3. Simplify fraction k = s -1 mol2dm-6
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3.1.9.1 Rate equations (A-level only)
The rate of a chemical reaction is related to the concentration of reactants by a rate equation of the form: Rate = k[A]m [B]n where m and n are the orders of reaction with respect to reactants A and B and k is the rate constant.
The orders m and n are restricted to the values 0, 1, and 2.
Students should be able to:
• define the terms order of reaction and rate constant
• perform calculations using the rate equation