CAIDO, Danielle Jed T.
May 2, 2022
12 - Tranquility | General Chemistry 2 | Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics
Rate Law
• A chemical rate law is an equation that
connects the rate of reaction with the
concentration of its reactants at a given
temperature and pressure.
• E.g.:
o o If m = 1, the reaction is first
• In this chemical equation A and B are
reactants, and a and b are the
coefficients that balance the equation.
• The rate law expresses the relationship
of the rate of a reaction to the rate
constant and the concentrations of the
reactants raised to some powers.
Rate Law (continuation)
•
• k (Rate Constant)
o is unique for each equation
(determined experimentally).
• The exponents, m and n: each one is
called an ORDER OF REACTION and is
used to describe the relationship
between the initial concentration of a
particular reactant and the rate of
reaction.
order with respect to [A]
o If m = 2, the reaction is second
order with respect to [A]
• Experimental evidence has shown that
the rate of reaction is proportional to
(a) the product of the initial
concentrations where each
concentration is raised to some
exponential value.
• Formula:
Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics | 1
CAIDO, Danielle Jed T. May 2, 2022
12 - Tranquility | General Chemistry 2 | Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics

Reaction Order
• The total reaction order is the sum of all
exponents on all concentration terms.
• Total Order if Reaction
o It is the sum of all the
exponents in the rate law
equation.
•

This is a…

• First order reaction w.r.t [A]

• Second order reaction w.r.t [B]
• Zero order reaction w.r.t [C]

Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics | 2

CAIDO, Danielle Jed T. May 2, 2022
12 - Tranquility | General Chemistry 2 | Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics
Sample Problem:

Lecture Notes 1 | Chemical Kinetics | 3