14.3.Integrated Laws & Half-life

Introduction to Chemical Kinetics

  • Kinetics focuses on the rate or speed of chemical reactions.

Factors Affecting Reaction Rate

  • Various factors influence the rate at which reactions occur.

  • Identified key experimental methods for measuring these rates.

Rate Laws

  • General Rate Law: Depend on the number of reactants involved in the reaction.

    • Each reactant has a specific order, contributing to the total order of the reaction.

    • Total order is the sum of the individual orders for each reactant.

  • Finding Orders (m, n):

    • Determined through experimental data from trials.

    • Calculate the rate constant (k) using the experimental data.

  • Units of k:

    • To find the unit of k, use the formula:
      \text{Units of k}=\frac{1}{\text{Molarity}^{\text{total order}-1}s}

  • The total order defines the exponent for molarity in the units of k.

Differential Rate Laws (Initial Rates)

  • This method may lead to errors due to empirical limitations.

  • Graphical Approach Preferred

    • Utilizes concentration and time for a more accurate analysis.

    • Integrated rate laws created for the graphical representation.

Integrated Rate Laws

  • Concentration is plotted against time to determine the order of reaction:

    • Different forms of concentration on the y-axis based on the order of reaction.

  • Graph Types for Reactions:

    1. Concentration vs. Time

    2. ln(Concentration) vs. Time

    3. 1/Concentration vs. Time

  • Only one graph among these will show a linear relationship, indicating the reaction order.

Reactions by Order

First Order Reactions

  • Differential Rate Law:

    • Rate = k [A]

    • Change in Concentration over Time: \frac{d[A]}{dt} .

  • Integrated Rate Law Formula:

    • \ln[A] = -kt + \ln[A]_0

    • A_0 represents initial concentration.

  • Graph Characteristics:

    • Linear graph results in a negative slope of -k.

    • y-axis: ln(Concentration), x-axis: Time.

Second Order Reactions

  • Differential Rate Law:

    • Rate = k [A]^2

    • Change in Concentration over Time: \frac{d[A]}{dt} .

  • Integrated Rate Law Formula:

    • \frac{1}{[A]} = kt + \frac{1}{[A]_0}

  • Graph Characteristics:

    • Plotting 1/[A] vs Time yields a linear graph.

    • The slope is equal to k.

Zero Order Reactions

  • Differential Rate Law:

    • Rate = k

    • Changes in Concentration yield:
      [A] = -kt + [A]_0

  • Graph Characteristics:

    • Plotting Concentration vs. Time will be linear with a negative slope.

Examples of Rate Laws in Action

  • Example #1: First Order Reaction

    • Decomposition of an insecticide follows first order kinetics with k = 1.45 per year.

    • Initial concentration: 5 x 10^(-7) g/cm^3.

    • Given time: 1 year.

    • Final concentration is calculated using: \ln[A] = -kt + \ln[A]_0 .

    • Resulting final concentration: ~ 1.2 x 10^(-7) g/cm^3.

  • Example #2: Second Order Reaction

    • L A concentration drops from 0.657 to 0.0981 in 17 seconds.

    • Using the second order formula for calculations.

    • Resulting k value determined to be 0.510 1/(Molarity*seconds).

Half-Life Concept

  • Definition of Half-Life: Time required for a quantity to reduce to half its initial value.

  • Common Applications: Radiometric dating with carbon-14 for organic materials.

    • Carbon-14 half-life: 5730 years.

  • Half-Life Formulas by Reaction Order:

  1. First Order:
    t_{1/2} = \frac{\ln{2}}{k}

  2. ln(2) = 0.693, indicating half-life is independent of concentration.

  3. First-order reactions have a constant half-life (it does not depend on concentration)

Second Order:
t1/2 =

  1. DependenceI <[ao] on initial concentration.

  2. Zero Order:
    t{1/2} = \frac{[A]0}{2k}

Comparative Summary of Rate Laws and Half-Life

  • A comprehensive table summarizing rate laws, integrated rates, graphs, and half-life equations per reaction order is essential for solving problems effectively.

  • It's crucial to understand each type well by practicing various problems and examples.

Final Remarks

  • Students are encouraged to ask questions for clarification as there are no dumb questions.

  • Emphasis on rigorous practice building towards quizzes and exams, utilizing provided worksheets and examples.