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Rate Law Graphs

This document outlines how to determine the rate law of a reaction from concentration versus time data by plotting the data in three graphs: concentration [A] versus time, the natural log of concentration ln[A] versus time, and the inverse of concentration 1/[A] versus time. The linear graph indicates the order of the reaction - zero order for a linear [A] vs time plot, first order for a linear ln[A] vs time plot, and second order for a linear 1/[A] vs time plot. Examples are given of each type of reaction graph.

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Chris_Barber09
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238 views2 pages

Rate Law Graphs

This document outlines how to determine the rate law of a reaction from concentration versus time data by plotting the data in three graphs: concentration [A] versus time, the natural log of concentration ln[A] versus time, and the inverse of concentration 1/[A] versus time. The linear graph indicates the order of the reaction - zero order for a linear [A] vs time plot, first order for a linear ln[A] vs time plot, and second order for a linear 1/[A] vs time plot. Examples are given of each type of reaction graph.

Uploaded by

Chris_Barber09
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Rate Laws from Graphs of Concentration Versus

Time (Integrated Rate Laws)


In order to determine the rate law for a reaction from a set of data consisting of concentration (or the values
of some function of concentration) versus time, make three graphs.
[A] versus t (linear for a zero order reaction)
ln [A] versus t (linear for a 1st order reaction)
1 / [A] versus t (linear for a 2nd order reaction)
The graph that is linear indicates the order of the reaction with respect to A. Then, you can choose the correct
rate equation:
For a zero order reaction,
For a 1st order reaction,

rate = k
rate = k[A]

(k = - slope of line)
(k = - slope of line)

For a 2nd order reaction,

rate = k[A]2

(k = slope of line)

Examples
For a zero order reaction, as shown in the following figure, the plot of [A] versus time is a straight line with
k = - slope of the line. Other graphs are curved for a zero order reaction.

For a first order reaction, as shown in the following figure, the plot of the logrithm of [A] versus time is a
straight line with k = - slope of the line. Other graphs are curved for a first order reaction.

For a second order reaction, as shown in the following figure, the plot of 1/[A] versus time is a straight line
with k = slope of the line. Other graphs are curved for a second order reaction.

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