Chapter 10: Problem 187
Assertion: For a first order reaction, A (g) \(\rightarrow\) Product the time required to reduce successively the concentration of reactant by a constant fraction is always same. Reason: At any instant, the rate of a first order reaction is given by \(\mathrm{k}[\mathrm{A}]\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The assertion is true, and the reason correctly explains it. Both are correct.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Assertion
The assertion states that for a first-order reaction, reducing the concentration of the reactant A by a constant fraction requires the same amount of time at each step. This implies that the reaction follows an exponential decay, which means that the time taken for the concentration of A to reach a certain percentage of its initial value is constant.
02
Analyzing the Reason
The reason given is that the rate of a first-order reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of the reactant A, expressed as: \( \text{Rate} = k[A] \). This means the rate depends linearly on the current concentration of A, which follows the first-order kinetics definition.
03
Connecting the Assertion and the Reason
In first-order reactions, the integrated rate law is given by \( [A] = [A]_0 e^{-kt} \), where \([A]_0\) is the initial concentration. The relation shows that the concentration decreases exponentially over time, and the time it takes for \([A]\) to decrease to a fraction of \([A]_0\) is inversely proportional to the rate constant \(k\). Thus, the assertion naturally follows from the mathematical description of a first-order reaction.
04
Conclusion and Verification
Both the assertion and the reason are correct. The reason explains that the rate being dependent on \( [A] \) directly leads to the characteristic that the time required to reduce the concentration by a consistent fraction remains constant in a first-order reaction. Therefore, we can confirm the assertion due to the explanation provided by the reason.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Rate Constant
The rate constant, often denoted by the symbol \(k\), is a fundamental component in the study of reaction kinetics. It characterizes the speed at which a reaction proceeds. For a first-order reaction, the rate constant is directly related to the reaction rate, as shown in the equation \(\text{Rate} = k[A]\). Here, \([A]\) represents the concentration of the reactant at any given time.
A few crucial aspects to remember about the rate constant in the context of first-order reactions include:
A few crucial aspects to remember about the rate constant in the context of first-order reactions include:
- It is independent of the concentration of reactants. This means no matter the amount of substance present, the rate constant \(k\) remains unchanged.
- The rate constant is crucial in calculating how quickly a reaction occurs, with larger \(k\) values indicating faster reactions.
- It has specific units of \(s^{-1}\) for a first-order reaction, which denotes per second, aligning with the time factor in these kinds of reactions.
Exponential Decay
In a first-order reaction, the term exponential decay describes how the concentration of the reactant decreases over time. Mathematically, this behavior is captured by the formula \([A] = [A]_0 e^{-kt}\), where \([A]\) is the concentration of the reactant at time \(t\), \([A]_0\) is the initial concentration, and \(k\) is the rate constant.
Regular features of exponential decay include:
Regular features of exponential decay include:
- The reaction proceeds at a rate proportional to the concentration of the reactant, gradually declining as the concentration decreases.
- This type of decay implies a constant fraction of the reactant disappears over equal time periods, which is a hallmark of first-order reactions.
- The graph of concentration versus time displays a characteristic downward curve, never truly reaching zero, illustrating the ongoing nature of the decay.
Integrated Rate Law
The integrated rate law for first-order reactions provides a mathematical description that links reactant concentration over time. For first-order reactions, the law is expressed by the equation \([A] = [A]_0 e^{-kt}\). This vital equation allows us to determine how much of a reactant remains at a given time or to calculate the time necessary for a reactant to reach a certain concentration.
Some important points about the integrated rate law for first-order reactions include:
Some important points about the integrated rate law for first-order reactions include:
- It emphasizes the exponential relationship between concentration and time, ensuring precise predictions about reaction progress.
- The formula is rearrangeable to calculate different variables, such as finding the rate constant \(k\) if time and concentration data are given.
- By employing natural logarithms, we can linearize data for graph plotting, which aids in visually interpreting reaction kinetics.