Skip to main content
Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics
Chapter 14, Problem 41a

(a) The gas-phase decomposition of SO2Cl2, SO2Cl21g2 ¡SO21g2 + Cl21g2, is first order in SO2Cl2. At 600 K the half-life for this process is 2.3 * 105 s. What is the rate constant at this temperature?

Verified Solution

Video duration:
1m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

First-Order Reactions

First-order reactions are chemical reactions where the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of one reactant. This means that as the concentration of the reactant decreases, the rate of the reaction also decreases. The rate law for a first-order reaction can be expressed as rate = k[A], where k is the rate constant and [A] is the concentration of the reactant.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:29
First-Order Reactions

Half-Life of a Reaction

The half-life of a reaction is the time required for the concentration of a reactant to decrease to half of its initial value. For first-order reactions, the half-life is constant and independent of the initial concentration, calculated using the formula t1/2 = 0.693/k, where k is the rate constant. This relationship is crucial for determining the rate constant from the given half-life.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:49
First-Order Half-Life

Rate Constant (k)

The rate constant (k) is a proportionality factor in the rate law that quantifies the speed of a reaction at a given temperature. It is specific to each reaction and varies with temperature. For first-order reactions, the rate constant can be derived from the half-life using the equation k = 0.693/t1/2, allowing us to calculate k when the half-life is known.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:14
Equilibrium Constant K
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Consider the reaction of peroxydisulfate ion 1S2O82-2 with iodide ion 1I - 2 in aqueous solution: S2O8 2 - 1aq2 + 3 I - 1aq2¡2 SO42 - 1aq2 + I3- 1aq2 At a particular temperature, the initial rate of disappearance of S2O82 - varies with reactant concentrations in the following manner: Experiment 3S2o8 24 1M 2 3I4 1M 2 Initial Rate 1M,s2 1 0.018 0.036 2.6 * 10-6 2 0.027 0.036 3.9 * 10-6 3 0.036 0.054 7.8 * 10-6 4 0.050 0.072 1.4 * 10-5 (a) Determine the rate law for the reaction and state the units of the rate constant.

2175
views
Textbook Question

(a) For the generic reaction A S B what quantity, when graphed versus time, will yield a straight line for a first-order reaction?

627
views
Textbook Question
The decomposition of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), NaHCO31s2, into Na2CO31s2, H2O1l2, and CO21g2 at constant pressure requires the addition of 85 kJ of heat per two moles of NaHCO3. (b) Draw an enthalpy diagram for the reaction.
1260
views
Textbook Question

As described in Exercise 14.41, the decomposition of sulfuryl chloride 1SO2Cl22 is a first-order process. The rate constant for the decomposition at 660 K is 4.5 * 10-2 s-1. (b) At what time will the partial pressure of SO2Cl2 decline to one-tenth its initial value?

1754
views
Textbook Question

The first-order rate constant for the decomposition of N2O5, 2 N2O51g2¡4 NO21g2 + O21g2, a t 70 C i s 6.82 * 10-3 s-1. Suppose we start with 0.0250 mol of N2O51g2 in a volume of 2.0 L. (a) How many moles of N2O5 will remain after 5.0 min?

2863
views
Textbook Question

The first-order rate constant for the decomposition of N2O5, 2 N2O51g2¡4 NO21g2 + O21g2, a t 70 C i s 6.82 * 10-3 s-1. Suppose we start with 0.0250 mol of N2O51g2 in a volume of 2.0 L. (c) What is the half-life of N2O5 at 70 C ?

1058
views