Skip to main content
Ch.15 - Chemical Kinetics
Chapter 15, Problem 89a

The tabulated data were collected for this reaction at 500 °C: CH3CN(g) → CH3NC( g) a. Determine the order of the reaction and the value of the rate constant at this temperature.

Verified Solution

Video duration:
8m
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.

Reaction Order

The order of a reaction refers to the power to which the concentration of a reactant is raised in the rate law. It indicates how the rate of reaction depends on the concentration of reactants. For example, a first-order reaction has a rate that is directly proportional to the concentration of one reactant, while a second-order reaction depends on the square of the concentration of one reactant or the product of the concentrations of two reactants.
Recommended video:
Guided course
00:36
Average Bond Order

Rate Constant (k)

The rate constant, denoted as 'k', is a proportionality factor in the rate law that relates the rate of a reaction to the concentrations of the reactants. It is specific to a given reaction at a particular temperature and provides insight into the speed of the reaction. The value of 'k' can be determined experimentally and varies with temperature, reflecting the energy barrier that must be overcome for the reaction to proceed.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:14
Equilibrium Constant K

Arrhenius Equation

The Arrhenius equation describes how the rate constant 'k' changes with temperature. It is expressed as k = A * e^(-Ea/RT), where 'A' is the pre-exponential factor, 'Ea' is the activation energy, 'R' is the universal gas constant, and 'T' is the temperature in Kelvin. This equation highlights the exponential relationship between temperature and reaction rate, indicating that higher temperatures generally lead to increased reaction rates due to more molecules having sufficient energy to overcome the activation energy barrier.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:20
Arrhenius Equation