Chapter 18: Problem 36
An organic compound undergoes first-order decomposition. The time taken for its decomposition to \(1 / 8\) and \(1 / 10\) of its initial concentration are \(t_{1 / 8}\) and \(t_{1 / 10}\) respectively. What is the value of \(\left[\frac{t_{1 / 8}}{t_{1 / 10}}\right] \times 10\) ? \(\left(\log _{10} 2=0.3\right)\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understanding First-Order Kinetics
Apply for Concentration to 1/8
Apply for Concentration to 1/10
Equating the Rate Constants
Solve for the Ratio
Calculate logs and the Final Answer
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Rate Constant
If you're working on problems involving first-order kinetics, you'll often encounter the formula:\[ k = \frac{1}{t} \ln \left( \frac{[A]_0}{[A]} \right) \]
- Where \( k \) is the rate constant,
- \( t \) represents time,
- \([A]_0\) is the starting concentration,
- and \([A]\) is the concentration at time \( t \).
This formula is useful for finding \( k \) when initial and current concentrations are known, allowing you to quantify the decay rate of the substance undergoing decomposition. Remember, the natural logarithm \( \ln \) is a key component in this equation, used to simplify calculations of non-linear decays; reflect this in your calculations when solving similar problems.
Reaction Rate
\[ ext{Rate} = k[A] \]
- Where \( k \) is the rate constant determined from experiments or calculations,
- and \([A]\) is the concentration of the reactant at a given time.
By using this relationship, you can predict how fast a reaction is occurring at any given moment. For reactions that follow first-order kinetics, the initial concentration \([A]_0\) will decay at a rate influenced by \( k \), emphasizing its importance as a predictive tool in chemistry.
Concentration Decay
The mathematical expression for first-order concentration decay can be written as:
\[ [A] = [A]_0 \, e^{-kt} \]
- Here, \([A]\) is the concentration at time \( t \),
- \([A]_0\) is the initial concentration,
- \( k \) is the rate constant,
- and \( e \) is the base of the natural logarithm.
As the compound decomposes, its concentration decreases in a predictable manner that can be easily plotted on a graph as an exponentially decaying curve. An excellent example from the original exercise explains the decomposition to specific fractions (such as \(1/8\) or \(1/10\) of initial concentration), which showcases how concentration decay can be quantitively linked to time and the rate constant \( k \). Understanding this helps in predicting how long a reaction will take to reach a certain stage of completion.