Activity in General Chemistry II:

First Order and Half-Life Reactions

1. The decomposition of ethane (C2H6) to methyl radicals is a first-order reaction with a rate
constant of 5.36 x 10-4s-1 at 700̊ C:

C2H6  2CH3(g)

Calculate the half-life of the reaction in minutes.

2. Consider the reaction

X+YZ

From the following data, obtained at 360 K,

a) determine the order of the reaction, and

b) determine the initial rate of disappearance of X when the concentration of X is 0.30 M and
that of Y is 0. 40 M.

ANSWERS FOR QUESTIONS 1 AND 2

1.Given:
 k = 5.36 x 10-4s-1

ln 2
To calculate the half-life of the reaction in minutes, use the formula t1/2 = ,
k

ln 2
t1/2 =
k

0.6931471806
t1/2 =
5.36 x 10−4 s−1

t1/2 = 1293.185038 s

Since, in the problem, it is stated that it should be in minutes, convert the answer (s) to
minutes (m):

t1/2 = 1293.185038 s

1min
t1/2 = 1293.185038 s x = 21.55308397 m
60 s

t1/2 = 21.55 minutes

In conclusion, the half-life of the reaction in minutes is 21.55 minutes.

2. In order to get the answers in a and be, let us first get the rate law of the reaction to know the
degrees for reactants X and Y.

Use the formula:

x y
Rate ¿ ¿ ¿ k [ A ] [ B]
Rate ¿ = k [ A ] x [ B ] y

So, in here I will be substituting the values in the 2nd and 4th row (since they have the same value
in [X] but have different values in [Y]) to get the degree of reactant Y from the tabulated data:
x y
Rate ¿ ¿ ¿ k [ A ] [ B]
Rate ¿ = k [ A ] x [ B ] y

x y
0.127 M /s k [ 0.20 M ] [ 0.30 M ]
=
0.254 M /s k [ 0.20 M ] x [ 0.60 M ] y
 y
0.127 M /s [ 0.30 M ]
=
0.254 M /s [ 0.60 M ] y

1 1
M / s= M y
2 2

0.5 M/s = 0.5 My

ln(0.5)
To get the value of y, use the formula, or log0.5(0.5), which garners a value of 1.
ln(0.5)

ln(0.5)
= 1 = y or
ln(0.5)

log0.5(0.5) = 1 = y

 The order of reactant Y is 1 or [Y]1.

So, to get the order of reactant A, also use the formula, and substitute the values of the 3rd and 4th
row(since they have the same value in [Y] but different values in [X]):
x y
Rate ¿ ¿ ¿ k [ A ] [ B]
Rate ¿ = k [ A ] x [ B ] y

x y
1.02 M / s k [ 0.40 M ] [ 0.60 M ]
=
0.254 M /s k [ 0.20 M ] x [ 0.60 M ] y

x
1.02 M / s [ 0.40 M ]
=
0.254 M /s [ 0.20 M ] x

4 M/s = 2 Mx

ln( 4)
To get the value of x, use the formula, or log2(4), which garners a value of 2.
ln(2)

ln ( 4)
= 2 = x or
ln (2)

Log2(4) = 2 = x

 The order of reactant X is 2 or [X]2.

Now, we know that the rate law of the reaction which is:

Rate = k[X]2[Y]1 or Rate = k[X]2[Y]

a) For the order of the reaction, just add the exponents or the orders of reactants X and Y:

Order of reaction = x + y

Order of reaction = 2 + 1

Order of reaction = 3

 Therefore, the order of reaction is in the third order or in simpler terms, the
reaction is a third order reaction.

b) Before we get the initial rate of disappearance of X, we must first solve the reaction constant
or k. It can be done by substituting data (I chose the data in the 1st column) from the table to the
equation Rate = k[X]2[Y].

Rate = k[X]2[Y]

0.053 M/s = k [0.10 M]2[0.50 M]

0.053 M/s = k [0.01 M2] [0.50 M]

0.053 M/s = k [0.01 M2] [0.50 M]

0.053 M/s = k [0.005 M3]

0.053 M /s 0.053 M 3
= k
0.005 M 3 0.005 M 3

10. 6 M-2s-1 = k

Now that we know the reaction constant or k, let us find the initial rate of disappearance of X
when the concentration of X is 0.30 M and that Y is 0.40 M. Use the formula Rate = k[X]2[Y].

Rate = k[X]2[Y]

Initial Rate = k[X]2[Y]

Initial Rate = (10.6 M-2s-1 )[0.30 M]2[0.40 M]

Initial Rate = (10.6 M-2s-1 )[0.09 M2][0.40 M]

 Initial Rate = (10.6 M-2s-1 )(0.036 M3)

Initial Rate = 0.3816 M/s

 In conclusion, the initial rate of disappearance of X given that the concentration of

X is 0.30 M and Y is 0.40 M, is 0. 3816 M/s.