Rate Law of a Reaction

Objectives

Upon completion of this experiment, students should be able to:

1. Determine the rate law of a reaction

2. Explain the function of catalyst and inhibitor in reaction kinetic
3. Determine the rates of graph

Procedure

1. Concentrated H2O2 30% (2.5 mL) was diluted with 200 mL of distilled water in a
conical flask.

2. 20 mL of FeCl3 was added immediately after 10 minutes. This time was called as (t +
0) minutes.

3. This solution was pipette (10mL) in another conical flask containing 10mL of H2SO4
1 M.

4. The solution was quickly titrated with standard potassium permanganate (KMnO4) 0.05
M solution and the volume was recorded, V(L) at time, t=0 (Vo).

5. Procedure 3 was repeated for several conical flasks.

6. After each 10 minute, one sample was taken and titrated with standard solution of
0.05M KMnO4.

7. The graph of log Vo/Vt versus time (s) was plotted and the k value from the slope was
estimated.

Result

Reaction Time Burette

(minutes) Initial reading (mL) Final reading (mL) Volume (mL)

0 0.0 5.5 5.5

10 5.5 9.3 3.8

20 9.3 12.4 3.1

30 12.4 15.1 2.7

40 15.1 17.4 2.3

50 17.40 19.4 1.9

 60 19.3 20.8 1.5

Table 4.1.1 Calculation data to plot a graph

Vo = 5.5 mL

Time (s) Vt (mL) Log Vo/Vt

0 5.5 0.00

600 3.8 0.16

1200 3.1 0.25

1800 2.7 0.31

2400 2.3 0.38

3000 1.9 0.46

3600 1.5 0.56

 The graph of log Vo/Vt versus time (s)

0.6

0.5

0.4
Log Vo/Vt

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Time(s)
Discussion

In this experiment, a graph of log Vo/Vt against time (s) was plotted. The graph showed a
linear line. This showed that the reaction is first order. The slope of the line is twice the rate
constant, k from the rate law.

Integrated rate laws can be used to determine both the rate constant for a reaction and the
form of the rate law. It may seem more complicated to use integrated rate laws rather that the
method of initial rates to determine the rate law, but it really does take much longer to
perform and analyze the several reactions needed for the method of initial rates than it does to
produce the necessary graphs for the integrated rate law method especially with a good
graphing program.

The difference between a homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst is that in a heterogeneous

catalyst, it is in a different phase from the reactants. However, in a homogeneous catalyst, it
is in the same phase of the reactants.

Question

1. What is the k value? (Calculate it from the graph by using Equation 2)

Equation 2 : ln [H2O2]t / [H2O2]o

From graph of log Vo/Vt versus time (s)

t = 2400 s log Vo/Vt = 0.38

ln [H2O2]t / [H2O2]o = -kt ═> log (Vo/Vt) = kt

0.38 = k (2400s)

Antilog k = 1.583 x 10-4 s-1

k = 1.0003 s-1

2. Determine the reaction rate law (from the graph).Show your calculation if required.

2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2

Decomposite of H2O2
 Rate = k [H2O2]1

Rate = (1.0003s-1)

3. What is the meaning of "ferric catalyst is activated by copper ions”?

The corrosive properties of ferric become clear when being look at its chemical composition.
A ferric chloride molecule consists of one atom of iron with three atoms of chlorine hooked
onto it. The bridge between iron and chlorine, which creates the chemical adhesion of the
molecule, is made up of two electrons (negatively charged particles) for each chlorine atom.
Since the iron atom needs eight electrons to be in a stable condition, but has only six, it wants
to react electrochemically with the copper atoms of the etching plate to gain the missing two
electrons.

4. What other methods that have been used to determine the order of reactions by
decomposition?

a. Initial rate method

This method is used for reactions where more than one reactant species are evolved. Initial
rates of the reactant are determined by varying the concentration of only one reactant while
keeping the concentrations of other reactants constant. Initial rate of reaction corresponds to
the rate at the start of the reaction. The rate is calculated over the first smallest possible time
interval. This calculation is done either graphically or numerically.

b. Graphic method

First, the data of concentrations versus time is obtained by a suitable method, Then, the data
is plotted as concentration versus time. From the resulting plot, the instantaneous rates are
determined by drawing tangents to curve and then calculating their slopes. The reaction rate
that has obtained is plotted against concentrations raised to various powers. That is rates are
plotted against [C] 1, [C]2 and [C] 3… [C] n, n (n need not be integral numbers). From the
nature of the plots, the order of the reaction can be judged. For a zero order reaction, the
rate will not vary with concentration and the plot will be a line parallel to the concentration
axis. If the reaction displays any other order, then the plot of rate against concentration
raised to the appropriate oreder will be linear which obeys the relation, y=mx. The slope m
gives the rate constant k of the reaction.
 c. Half-life method

Half life of a reaction is defined as the time required for reducing the concentration of a
reactant to half its initial value. It is denoted as t1/2.

The t1/2 of a zero order reaction is given as :

While for the first order reaction is given as

In general, for a reaction of order n, t1/2 is proportional to initial concentration of A raised to

power n-1, that is

Only for the first order reaction t1/2 is independent of the initial concentration of the reactant.
This relation can be used to determine the order of a reaction.

5. Discuss the uncertainty that you get in this experiment.

The uncertainty that we got from this experiment is the reaction is the first order reaction.
This is based from the graph that had been plotted which showed a linear graph. The order
of reaction could be determined from the graph. This is by using the graphical method.

Conclusion

The rate law of a reaction is the reaction rate or rate of reaction for a reactant or product in a
particular reaction is intuitively defined as how fast a reaction takes place. For example, the
oxidation of iron under the atmosphere is a slow reaction which can take many years, but the
combustion of butane in a fire is a reaction that takes place in fractions of a second.

The function of catalyst is to lower energy of activation. It catalyst is an element or compound

that increase or decrease the rate of a reaction. However what makes catalysts special is that
they are not consumed during the reaction.
In this experiment, a graph of log Vo/Vt against time (s) was plotted. The graph showed a linear
line. This showed that the reaction is first order.