12.4 Integrated Rate Laws
Learning Objectives
- Explain the form and function of an integrated rate law
- Perform integrated rate law calculations for zero-, first-, and second-order reactions
- Define half-life and carry out related calculations
- Identify the order of a reaction from concentration/time data
The rate laws we have seen thus far relate the rate and the concentrations of reactants. We can also determine a second form of each rate law that relates the concentrations of reactants and time. These are called integrated rate laws. We can use an integrated rate law to determine the amount of reactant or product present after a period of time or to estimate the time required for a reaction to proceed to a certain extent. For example, an integrated rate law is used to determine the length of time a radioactive material must be stored for its radioactivity to decay to a safe level.
Using calculus, the differential rate law for a chemical reaction can be integrated with respect to time to give an equation that relates the amount of reactant or product present in a reaction mixture to the elapsed time of the reaction. This process can either be very straightforward or very complex, depending on the complexity of the differential rate law. For purposes of discussion, we will focus on the resulting integrated rate laws for first-, second-, and zero-order reactions.
First-Order Reactions
An equation relating the rate constant k to the initial concentration [A]0 and the concentration [A]t present after any given time t can be derived for a first-order reaction and shown to be:
or
or
Example 1
The Integrated Rate Law for a First-Order Reaction
The rate constant for the first-order decomposition of cyclobutane, C4H8 at 500 °C is 9.2 × 10−3 s−1:
How long will it take for 80.0% of a sample of C4H8 to decompose?
Solution
We use the integrated form of the rate law to answer questions regarding time:
There are four variables in the rate law, so if we know three of them, we can determine the fourth. In this case we know [A]0, [A], and k, and need to find t.
The initial concentration of C4H8, [A]0, is not provided, but the provision that 80.0% of the sample has decomposed is enough information to solve this problem. Let x be the initial concentration, in which case the concentration after 80.0% decomposition is 20.0% of x or 0.200x. Rearranging the rate law to isolate t and substituting the provided quantities yields:
We can use integrated rate laws with experimental data that consist of time and concentration information to determine the order and rate constant of a reaction. The integrated rate law can be rearranged to a standard linear equation format:
A plot of ln[A] versus t for a first-order reaction is a straight line with a slope of −k and an intercept of ln[A]0. If a set of rate data are plotted in this fashion but do not result in a straight line, the reaction is not first order in A.
Example 2
Determination of Reaction Order by Graphing
Show that the data in Figure 1 in Chapter 12.1 Chemical Reaction Rates can be represented by a first-order rate law by graphing ln[H2O2] versus time. Determine the rate constant for the rate of decomposition of H2O2 from this data.
Solution
The data from Figure 1 in Chapter 12.1 Chemical Reaction Rates with the addition of values of ln[H2O2] are given in Figure 1.
| Trial | Time (h) | [H2O2] (M) | ln[H2O2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 2 | 6.00 | 0.500 | −0.693 |
| 3 | 12.00 | 0.250 | −1.386 |
| 4 | 18.00 | 0.125 | −2.079 |
| 5 | 24.00 | 0.0625 | −2.772 |
| Table 17. |
The plot of ln[H2O2] versus time is linear, thus we have verified that the reaction may be described by a first-order rate law.
The rate constant for a first-order reaction is equal to the negative of the slope of the plot of ln[H2O2] versus time where:
In order to determine the slope of the line, we need two values of ln[H2O2] at different values of t (one near each end of the line is preferable). For example, the value of ln[H2O2] when t is 6.00 h is −0.693; the value when t = 12.00 h is −1.386:
Check Your Learning
Graph the following data to determine whether the reaction [latex]A\;{\longrightarrow}\;B\;+\;C[/latex] is first order.
| Trial | Time (s) | [A] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.0 | 0.220 |
| 2 | 8.0 | 0.144 |
| 3 | 12.0 | 0.110 |
| 4 | 16.0 | 0.088 |
| 5 | 20.0 | 0.074 |
| Table 18. |
Answer:
The plot of ln[A] vs. t is not a straight line. The equation is not first order:
Interactive Video Quiz
Second-Order Reactions
The equations that relate the concentrations of reactants and the rate constant of second-order reactions are fairly complicated. We will limit ourselves to the simplest second-order reactions, namely, those with rates that are dependent upon just one reactant’s concentration and described by the differential rate law:
For these second-order reactions, the integrated rate law is:
where the terms in the equation have their usual meanings as defined earlier.
The integrated rate law for our second-order reactions has the form of the equation of a straight line:
A plot of [latex]\frac{1}{[A]}[/latex] versus t for a second-order reaction is a straight line with a slope of k and an intercept of [latex]\frac{1}{[A]_0}[/latex]. If the plot is not a straight line, then the reaction is not second order.
Example 4
Determination of Reaction Order by Graphing
Test the data given to show whether the dimerization of C4H6 is a first- or a second-order reaction.
Solution
| Trial | Time (s) | [C4H6] (M) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1.00 × 10−2 |
| 2 | 1600 | 5.04 × 10−3 |
| 3 | 3200 | 3.37 × 10−3 |
| 4 | 4800 | 2.53 × 10−3 |
| 5 | 6200 | 2.08 × 10−3 |
| Table 19. |
In order to distinguish a first-order reaction from a second-order reaction, we plot ln[C4H6] versus t and compare it with a plot of [latex]\frac{1}{[\text{C}_4\text{H}_6]}[/latex] versus t. The values needed for these plots follow.
| Time (s) | [latex]\frac{1}{[\text{C}_4\text{H}_6]}(M^{-1})[/latex] | ln[C4H6] |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | −4.605 |
| 1600 | 198 | −5.289 |
| 3200 | 296 | −5.692 |
| 4800 | 395 | −5.978 |
| 6200 | 481 | −6.175 |
| Table 20. |
The plots are shown in Figure 2. As you can see, the plot of ln[C4H6] versus t is not linear, therefore the reaction is not first order. The plot of [latex]\frac{1}{[\text{C}_4\text{H}_6]}[/latex] versus t is linear, indicating that the reaction is second order.
Interactive Video Quiz
Zero-Order Reactions
For zero-order reactions, the differential rate law is:
A zero-order reaction thus exhibits a constant reaction rate, regardless of the concentration of its reactants.
The integrated rate law for a zero-order reaction also has the form of the equation of a straight line:
A plot of [A] versus t for a zero-order reaction is a straight line with a slope of −k and an intercept of [A]0. Figure 3 shows a plot of [NH3] versus t for the decomposition of ammonia on a hot tungsten wire and for the decomposition of ammonia on hot quartz (SiO2). The decomposition of NH3 on hot tungsten is zero order; the plot is a straight line. The decomposition of NH3 on hot quartz is not zero order (it is first order). From the slope of the line for the zero-order decomposition, we can determine the rate constant:
The Half-Life of a Reaction
The half-life of a reaction (t1/2) is the time required for one-half of a given amount of reactant to be consumed. In each succeeding half-life, half of the remaining concentration of the reactant is consumed. Using the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (Figure 1 in Chapter 12.1 Chemical Reaction Rates) as an example, we find that during the first half-life (from 0.00 hours to 6.00 hours), the concentration of H2O2 decreases from 1.000 M to 0.500 M. During the second half-life (from 6.00 hours to 12.00 hours), it decreases from 0.500 M to 0.250 M; during the third half-life, it decreases from 0.250 M to 0.125 M. The concentration of H2O2 decreases by half during each successive period of 6.00 hours. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is a first-order reaction, and, as can be shown, the half-life of a first-order reaction is independent of the concentration of the reactant. However, half-lives of reactions with other orders depend on the concentrations of the reactants.
First-Order Reactions
We can derive an equation for determining the half-life of a first-order reaction from the alternate form of the integrated rate law as follows:
If we set the time t equal to the half-life, [latex]t_{1/2}[/latex], the corresponding concentration of A at this time is equal to one-half of its initial concentration. Hence, when [latex]t = t_{1/2}[/latex], [latex][A] = \frac{1}{2}[A]_0[/latex].
Therefore:
Thus:
We can see that the half-life of a first-order reaction is inversely proportional to the rate constant k. A fast reaction (shorter half-life) will have a larger k; a slow reaction (longer half-life) will have a smaller k.
Example 5
Calculation of a First-order Rate Constant using Half-Life
Calculate the rate constant for the first-order decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in water at 40 °C, using the data given in Figure 4.
Solution
The half-life for the decomposition of H2O2 is 2.16 × 104 s:
Second-Order Reactions
We can derive the equation for calculating the half-life of a second order as follows:
or
If
then
and we can write:
Thus:
For a second-order reaction, [latex]t_{1/2}[/latex] is inversely proportional to the concentration of the reactant, and the half-life increases as the reaction proceeds because the concentration of reactant decreases. Consequently, we find the use of the half-life concept to be more complex for second-order reactions than for first-order reactions. Unlike with first-order reactions, the rate constant of a second-order reaction cannot be calculated directly from the half-life unless the initial concentration is known.
Zero-Order Reactions
We can derive an equation for calculating the half-life of a zero order reaction as follows:
When half of the initial amount of reactant has been consumed [latex]t = t_{1/2}[/latex] and [latex][A] = \frac{[A]_0}{2}[/latex]. Thus:
and
The half-life of a zero-order reaction increases as the initial concentration increases.
Equations for both differential and integrated rate laws and the corresponding half-lives for zero-, first-, and second-order reactions are summarized in Table 22.
Summary of Rate Laws for Zero-, First-, and Second-Order Reactions
| Item | Zero-Order | First-Order | Second-Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| rate law | rate = k | rate = k[A] | rate = k[A]2 |
| units of rate constant | M s−1 | s−1 | M−1 s−1 |
| integrated rate law | [A] = −kt + [A]0 | ln[A] = −kt + ln[A]0 | [latex]\frac{1}{[A]} = kt\;+\;(\frac{1}{[A]_0})[/latex] |
| plot needed for linear fit of rate data | [A] vs. t | ln[A] vs. t | [latex]\frac{1}{[A]}\;\text{vs.}\;t[/latex] |
| relationship between slope of linear plot and rate constant | k = −slope | k = −slope | k = +slope |
| half-life | [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{[A]_0}{2k}[/latex] | [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{0.693}{k}[/latex] | [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{1}{[A]_0k}[/latex] |
| Table 22. Summary of Rate Laws for Zero-, First-, and Second-Order Reactions |
Interactive Video Quiz
Key Concepts and Summary
Differential rate laws can be determined by the method of initial rates or other methods. We measure values for the initial rates of a reaction at different concentrations of the reactants. From these measurements, we determine the order of the reaction in each reactant. Integrated rate laws are determined by integration of the corresponding differential rate laws. Rate constants for those rate laws are determined from measurements of concentration at various times during a reaction.
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: [latex][A] = -kt\;+\;[A]_0[/latex], [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{[A]_0}{2k}[/latex]
- integrated rate law for first-order reactions: [latex]\text{ln}\;[A] = -kt\;+\;\text{ln}\;[A]_0[/latex], [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{0.693}{k}[/latex]
- integrated rate law for second-order reactions: [latex]\frac{1}{[A]} = kt\;+\;\frac{1}{[A]_0}[/latex], [latex]t_{1/2} = \frac{1}{[A]_0k}[/latex]
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.
- Use the data provided to graphically determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction: [latex]\text{SO}_2\text{Cl}_2\;{\longrightarrow}\;\text{SO}_2\;+\;\text{Cl}_2[/latex]
Time (s) 0 5.00 × 103 1.00 × 104 1.50 × 104 [SO2Cl2] (M) 0.100 0.0896 0.0802 0.0719 Time (s) 2.50 × 104 3.00 × 104 4.00 × 104 [SO2Cl2] (M) 0.0577 0.0517 0.0415 Table 23. - Use the data provided in a graphical method to determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction:
[latex]2P\;{\longrightarrow}\;Q\;+\;W[/latex]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 Table 24. - Pure ozone decomposes slowly to oxygen, [latex]2\text{O}_3(g)\;{\longrightarrow}\;3\text{O}_2(g)[/latex]. Use the data provided in a graphical method and determine the order and rate constant of the reaction.
Time (h) 0 2.0 × 103 7.6 × 103 1.00 × 104 [O3] (M) 1.00 × 10−5 4.98 × 10−6 2.07 × 10−6 1.66 × 10−6 Time (h) 1.23 × 104 1.43 × 104 1.70 × 104 [O3] (M) 1.39 × 10−6 1.22 × 10−6 1.05 × 10−6 Table 25. - From the given data, use a graphical method to determine the order and rate constant of the following reaction:
[latex]2X\;{\longrightarrow}\;Y\;+\;Z[/latex]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 Table 26. - What is the half-life for the first-order decay of phosphorus-32? ([latex]_{15}^{32}\text{P}\;{\longrightarrow}\;_{16}^{32}\text{S}\;+\;\text{e}^{-})[/latex]. The rate constant for the decay is 4.85 × 10−2 day−1.
- What is the half-life for the first-order decay of carbon-14? [latex](_6^{14}\text{C}\;{\longrightarrow}\;_7^{14}\text{N}\;+\;\text{e}^{-})[/latex] The rate constant for the decay is 1.21 × 10−4 year−1.
- 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.
- What is the half-life for the decomposition of O3 when the concentration of O3 is 2.35 × 10−6M? The rate constant for this second-order reaction is 50.4 L/mol/h.
- 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 t1/2?
- 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?
- Some bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic penicillin because they produce penicillinase, an enzyme with a molecular weight of 3 × 104 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 Table 27. - 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)?
- There are two molecules with the formula C3H6. Propene, [latex]\text{CH}_3\text{CH}=\text{CH}_2[/latex], is the monomer of the polymer polypropylene, which is used for indoor-outdoor carpets. Cyclopropane is used as an anesthetic:
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?
- 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 [latex]_{518}^{9}\text{F}\;{\longrightarrow}\;_{18}^{8}\text{O}\;+\;\text{e}^{-}[/latex].) Physicians use 18F 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 18F to decay?
- 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 [latex]\frac{1}{64}[/latex] of the initial dose to remain in the athlete’s body?
- 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.
- 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 [C3H5N3O9] (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 Table 28. - For the past 10 years, the unsaturated hydrocarbon 1,3-butadiene ([latex]\text{CH}_2=\text{CH}-\text{CH}=\text{CH}_2[/latex]) 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:
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.
Glossary
- half-life of a reaction (tl/2)
- time required for half of a given amount of reactant to be consumed
- integrated rate law
- equation that relates the concentration of a reactant to elapsed time of reaction
Solutions
Answers to Chemistry End of Chapter Exercises
2. Plotting a graph of ln[SO2Cl2] versus t reveals a linear trend; therefore we know this is a first-order reaction:
k = −2.20 × 105 s−1
4.
The plot is nicely linear, so the reaction is second order.
k = 50.1 L mol−1 h−1
6. 14.3 d
8. 8.3 × 107 s
10. 0.826 s
12. The reaction is first order.
k = 1.0 × 107 mol−1 min−1
14. 4.98; 20% remains
16. 252 days
18.
| [A]0 (M) | k × 103 (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 |
| Table 29.
|