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Half-Life Method for Rate Equation Calculation

The document discusses the determination of a rate equation for the decomposition of reactant A using the half-life method. It presents data on concentration over time and explains the calculation of the rate constant k and the rate equation. The author emphasizes the accuracy of using specific initial concentrations for the analysis to avoid interpolation errors.

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hieu.tran151003
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212 views3 pages

Half-Life Method for Rate Equation Calculation

The document discusses the determination of a rate equation for the decomposition of reactant A using the half-life method. It presents data on concentration over time and explains the calculation of the rate constant k and the rate equation. The author emphasizes the accuracy of using specific initial concentrations for the analysis to avoid interpolation errors.

Uploaded by

hieu.tran151003
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3.

26

Example 3.1c showed how to find a rate equation by using the fractional life method where F = 80%.
Take the data from that example and find the rate equation by using the half-life method. As a
suggestion, why not take CA0 = 10, 6, and 2?

Solution

Reactant A decomposes in a batch reactor:

A -> Products

The composition of A in the reactor is measured at various times with results shown in the following
columns 1 and 2

Column 1 Column 2
Time, t (s) Concentration, CA (mol/l)
0 10
20 8
40 6
60 5
120 3
180 2
300 1
- Using half-life method to determine the rate constant k:

(1)

- Then, we take logarithms:

(2)

=> (3)

- From the eq (3), we can think about the linear equation between and , then plot it from
the logarithms table:

CA0 (mol/l) CA (mol/l) = 0.5 CA0 (mol/l) Time, t (s)


10 5 60
6 3 80
2 1 120
Take logarithms:

0.69897 1.778151
0.477121 1.90309
0 2.079181

Then, plot the curve:

From interpolation, we have the slop: 1-n = -0.420873584 => n = 1.420873584

- From eq (1), replacing t=60 (s), CA0 = 10 (mol/l) and n = 1.420873584, we have k = 0.005089

- Therefore, the rate equation of this reaction is:

( )

- The reason why we do not take the value of CA0 = 10, 6, and 2?

I think it will be more accuracy to take 10, 6 and 2 because when we take the half-life time because we
already had the data in the given table. Instead of taking CA0 = 10, 5, and 2 like example 3.1c, when we
take half-life time, there is no data for 5 (mol/l) and we need to calculate and it will be some errors here.

- For the half life method in this solution, taking CA at 6 mol/l is more convenient since at 50% of CA (3
mol/l), the correspond value of time is recorded while at 50% of CA = 5 mol/l (2.5 mol/l), the time value
is not recorded in the table then we have to interpolate on the graph, hence more error in calculation
will occur

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