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The half-life of a reaction is the time required to decrease the amount of a given reactant by one-half. The half-life of a zero-order reaction decreases as the initial concentration of the reactant in the reaction decreases. The half-life of a first-order reaction is independent of concentration, and the half-life of a second-order reaction decreases as the concentration increases.

Key equations

  • integrated rate law for zero-order reactions: [ A ] = k t + [ A ] 0 , t 1 / 2 = [ A ] 0 2 k
  • integrated rate law for first-order reactions: ln [ A ] = k t + ln [ A ] 0 , t 1 / 2 = 0.693 k
  • integrated rate law for second-order reactions: 1 [ A ] = k t + 1 [ A ] 0 , t 1 / 2 = 1 [ A ] 0 k

Chemistry end of chapter exercises

Describe how graphical methods can be used to determine the order of a reaction and its rate constant from a series of data that includes the concentration of A at varying times.

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Use the data provided to graphically determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction: SO 2 Cl 2 SO 2 + Cl 2

Time (s) 0 5.00 × 10 3 1.00 × 10 4 1.50 × 10 4
[SO 2 Cl 2 ] ( M ) 0.100 0.0896 0.0802 0.0719
Time (s) 2.50 × 10 4 3.00 × 10 4 4.00 × 10 4
[SO 2 Cl 2 ] ( M ) 0.0577 0.0517 0.0415

Plotting a graph of ln[SO 2 Cl 2 ] versus t reveals a linear trend; therefore we know this is a first-order reaction:
A graph is shown with the label “Time ( s )” on the x-axis and “l n [ S O subscript 2 C l subscript 2 ] M” on the y-axis. The x-axis begins at 0 and extends to 4.00 times 10 superscript 4 with markings every 1.00 times 10 superscript 4. The y-axis shows markings extending from negative 3.5 to negative 2.5. A decreasing linear trend line is drawn through seven points at the approximate coordinates: (0, negative 2.3), (0.5 times 10 superscript 4, negative 2.4), (1.0 times 10 superscript 4, negative 2.5), (1.5 times 10 superscript 4, negative 2.6), (2.0 times 10 superscript 4, negative 2.9), (2.5 times 10 superscript 4, negative 3.0), and (3.0 times 10 superscript 4, negative 3.2).
k = −2.20 × 10 5 s −1

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Use the data provided in a graphical method to determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction:
2 P Q + W

Time (s) 9.0 13.0 18.0 22.0 25.0
[P] ( M ) 1.077 × 10 −3 1.068 × 10 −3 1.055 × 10 −3 1.046 × 10 −3 1.039 × 10 −3

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Pure ozone decomposes slowly to oxygen, 2O 3 ( g ) 3O 2 ( g ) . Use the data provided in a graphical method and determine the order and rate constant of the reaction.

Time (h) 0 2.0 × 10 3 7.6 × 10 3 1.00 × 10 4
[O 3 ] ( M ) 1.00 × 10 −5 4.98 × 10 −6 2.07 × 10 −6 1.66 × 10 −6
Time (h) 1.23 × 10 4 1.43 × 10 4 1.70 × 10 4
[O 3 ] ( M ) 1.39 × 10 −6 1.22 × 10 −6 1.05 × 10 −6


A graph is shown with the label, “t ( h ,)” on the x-axis and, “1 divided by [ O subscript 3 ] M,” on the y-axis. The x-axis shows markings at 0, 2 times 10 superscript 3, 6 times 10 superscript 3, 10 time 10 superscript 3, 14 times 10 superscript 3, and 18 times 10 superscript 3. The y-axis shows markings beginning at 0, increasing by 1 up to and including 9. An increasing linear trend line is drawn through seven points at the coordinates: (0, 1.00), (2.0 times 10 superscript 3, 2.01), (7.6 times 10 superscript 3, 4.83), (1.00 times 10 superscript 4, 6.02), (1.23 times 10 superscript 4 , 6.02), (1.43 times 10 superscript 4, 8.20) and (1.70 times 10 superscript 4, 9.52). A horizontal line segment is drawn through the first point and a vertical line segment is similarly drawn through the last point to make a right triangle on the graph. The horizontal leg of the triangle is labeled “ capital delta t.” The vertical leg is labeled “capital delta 1 divided by [ O subscript 3 ].”
The plot is nicely linear, so the reaction is second order.
k = 50.1 L mol −1 h −1

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From the given data, use a graphical method to determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction:
2 X Y + Z

Time (s) 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0
[ X ] ( M ) 0.0990 0.0497 0.0332 0.0249 0.0200 0.0166 0.0143 0.0125

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What is the half-life for the first-order decay of phosphorus-32? ( 15 32 P 16 32 S + e ) The rate constant for the decay is 4.85 × 10 −2 day −1 .

14.3 d

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What is the half-life for the first-order decay of carbon-14? ( 6 14 C 7 14 N + e ) The rate constant for the decay is 1.21 × 10 −4 year −1 .

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What is the half-life for the decomposition of NOCl when the concentration of NOCl is 0.15 M ? The rate constant for this second-order reaction is 8.0 × 10 −8 L/mol/s.

8.3 × 10 7 s

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What is the half-life for the decomposition of O 3 when the concentration of O 3 is 2.35 × 10 −6 M ? The rate constant for this second-order reaction is 50.4 L/mol/h.

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The reaction of compound   A to give compounds   C and   D was found to be second-order in   A . The rate constant for the reaction was determined to be 2.42 L/mol/s. If the initial concentration is 0.500 mol/L, what is the value of t 1/2 ?

0.826 s

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The half-life of a reaction of compound A to give compounds D and E is 8.50 min when the initial concentration of A is 0.150 mol/L. How long will it take for the concentration to drop to 0.0300 mol/L if the reaction is (a) first order with respect to A or (b) second order with respect to A ?

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Some bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic penicillin because they produce penicillinase, an enzyme with a molecular weight of 3 × 10 4 g/mol that converts penicillin into inactive molecules. Although the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions can be complex, at low concentrations this reaction can be described by a rate equation that is first order in the catalyst (penicillinase) and that also involves the concentration of penicillin. From the following data: 1.0 L of a solution containing 0.15 µg (0.15 × 10 −6 g) of penicillinase, determine the order of the reaction with respect to penicillin and the value of the rate constant.

[Penicillin] ( M ) Rate (mol/L/min)
2.0 × 10 −6 1.0 × 10 −10
3.0 × 10 −6 1.5 × 10 −10
4.0 × 10 −6 2.0 × 10 −10

The reaction is first order.
k = 1.0 × 10 7 mol −1 min −1

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Both technetium-99 and thallium-201 are used to image heart muscle in patients with suspected heart problems. The half-lives are 6 h and 73 h, respectively. What percent of the radioactivity would remain for each of the isotopes after 2 days (48 h)?

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There are two molecules with the formula C 3 H 6 . Propene, CH 3 CH = CH 2 , is the monomer of the polymer polypropylene, which is used for indoor-outdoor carpets. Cyclopropane is used as an anesthetic:
A structural formula for cyclopropane is shown. Three C H subscript 2 groups are positioned as vertices of an equilateral triangle connected with single bonds represented by line segments.

When heated to 499 °C, cyclopropane rearranges (isomerizes) and forms propene with a rate constant of
5.95 × 10 −4 s −1 . What is the half-life of this reaction? What fraction of the cyclopropane remains after 0.75 h at 499.5 °C?

4.98; 20% remains

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Fluorine-18 is a radioactive isotope that decays by positron emission to form oxygen-18 with a half-life of 109.7 min. (A positron is a particle with the mass of an electron and a single unit of positive charge; the equation is 518 9 F 18 8 O + e . ) Physicians use 18 F to study the brain by injecting a quantity of fluoro-substituted glucose into the blood of a patient. The glucose accumulates in the regions where the brain is active and needs nourishment.

(a) What is the rate constant for the decomposition of fluorine-18?

(b) If a sample of glucose containing radioactive fluorine-18 is injected into the blood, what percent of the radioactivity will remain after 5.59 h?

(c) How long does it take for 99.99% of the 18 F to decay?

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Suppose that the half-life of steroids taken by an athlete is 42 days. Assuming that the steroids biodegrade by a first-order process, how long would it take for 1 64 of the initial dose to remain in the athlete’s body?

252 days

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Recently, the skeleton of King Richard III was found under a parking lot in England. If tissue samples from the skeleton contain about 93.79% of the carbon-14 expected in living tissue, what year did King Richard III die? The half-life for carbon-14 is 5730 years.

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Nitroglycerine is an extremely sensitive explosive. In a series of carefully controlled experiments, samples of the explosive were heated to 160 °C and their first-order decomposition studied. Determine the average rate constants for each experiment using the following data:

Initial [C 3 H 5 N 3 O 9 ] ( M ) 4.88 3.52 2.29 1.81 5.33 4.05 2.95 1.72
t (s) 300 300 300 300 180 180 180 180
% Decomposed 52.0 52.9 53.2 53.9 34.6 35.9 36.0 35.4

[ A ] 0 ( M ) k × 10 3 (s −1 )
4.88 2.45
3.52 2.51
2.29 2.54
1.81 2.58
5.33 2.35
4.05 2.44
2.95 2.47
1.72 2.43

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For the past 10 years, the unsaturated hydrocarbon 1,3-butadiene ( CH 2 = CH CH = CH 2 ) has ranked 38th among the top 50 industrial chemicals. It is used primarily for the manufacture of synthetic rubber. An isomer exists also as cyclobutene:
A structural formula for cyclobutene is shown. The figure has two C H subscript 2 groups as the upper two vertices of a square structure. These groups are connected by a single, short line segment. Line segments extend below each of these C H subscript 2 groups to C H groups positioned at the lower two vertices of the square structure. The C H groups are connected with a double line segment indicating a double bond.

The isomerization of cyclobutene to butadiene is first-order and the rate constant has been measured as 2.0 × 10 −4 s −1 at 150 °C in a 0.53-L flask. Determine the partial pressure of cyclobutene and its concentration after 30.0 minutes if an isomerization reaction is carried out at 150 °C with an initial pressure of 55 torr.

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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
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bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
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Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
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Aphelele
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Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
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Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
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Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
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Method
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Enock
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Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
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Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Chemistry. OpenStax CNX. May 20, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11760/1.9
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