When chemists are performing kinetics experiments, the general rule of thumb
is to allow the reaction to proceed for 4 half-lives. (a) Explain how you
would be able to tell that the reaction has proceeded for 4 half-lives. (b)
Let us suppose a reaction \(\mathrm{A} \rightarrow \mathrm{B}\) takes 6 days to
proceed for 4 half-lives and is first order in A. However, when your lab
partner performs this reaction for the first time, he does not realize how
long it takes, and he stops taking kinetic data, monitoring the loss of A,
after only 2 hours. Your lab partner concludes the reaction is zero order in A
based on the data. Sketch a graph of [A] versus time to convince your lab
partner the two of you need to be in the lab for a few days to obtain the
proper rate law for the reaction.