Rate Law

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The general format of a rate law is as follows:

Rate = k[A]^x ^y...

So the rate law is affected by a change in a reactant concentration or by anything that affects the rate constant, k.

The rate constant in turn is affected by either a change in temperature or a change in the activation energy (via a catalyst) as shown by the Arrhenious eqn:

k = A e^-Ea/RT where Ea = activation energy

Increase temp, increase k
Decrease Ea, increase k


Don't confuse the rate constant, k, with the equilibrium constant, capital Keq, which is only affected by a change in temperature.

Hope this helps.


this is what the problem was.. thanks
 
The general format of a rate law is as follows:

Rate = k[A]^x ^y...

So the rate law is affected by a change in a reactant concentration or by anything that affects the rate constant, k.

The rate constant in turn is affected by either a change in temperature or a change in the activation energy (via a catalyst) as shown by the Arrhenious eqn:

k = A e^-Ea/RT where Ea = activation energy

Increase temp, increase k
Decrease Ea, increase k


Don't confuse the rate constant, k, with the equilibrium constant, capital Keq, which is only affected by a change in temperature.

Hope this helps.



Also to add a little bit more, for a zero-order reaction the rate = k and increasing the concentration has no effect on the rate.
 
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