Question

Consider a sequential reaction

1k 2 k
A −→ B −→ C
in which atoms of type A decay into atoms of type B, and atoms of
type B decay into atoms of type C, which are stable. Let a(t), b(t), c(t) be
the number of atoms at time t of type A, B, C respectively. The numbers
of atoms are large, so that they may taken to vary continuously, and the
processes may then be modelled by a pair of coupled first order differential
equations describing the rates of the decay:
da db
= −k1 a, = k1 a − k2 b,
dt dt
together with the information that a(t)+b(t)+c(t) is constant. Assuming
that at time t = 0, a(0) = α and b(0) = 0 = c(0) find expressions for the
number of atoms of each type which are present at any given time.
Answer
Number of atoms of type A:
∂a
Solve = −K1 a (Separation of variables)
∂t
−K1 t
a(t) = λe (λ constant)
Using boundary condition, a(0) = α gives λ = α
so a(t) = αe−K1 t

Number of atoms of type B:

∂b
Solve = K1 a − K2 b = K1 αe−K1 t − K2 b (from above)
∂t
This gives a first order linear differential equation
∂b
+ K2 b = K1 αe−K1 t
∂t
R
with integrating factor: I(t) = eK2 dt = eK2 t
Multiplying equation by integrating factor gives
∂b
e K2 t + K2 beK2 t = K1 αe(K2 −K1 )t
∂t
so
∂
(beK2 t ) = K1 αe(K2 −K1 )t .
∂t
Integrating gives

1
 K1 α (K2 −K1 )t
beK2 t = e +D
K2 − K 1
where D is constant.
Boundary conditions b(0) = 0 gives
K1 α K1 α
0= +D ⇒D =−
K2 − K 1 K2 − K 1
Solution is
K1 α ³ −K1 t ´
b(t) = e − e−K2 t
K2 − K 1

Number of atoms of type C: c(t) = K − a(t) − b(t) for some constant K.

Using boundary conditions a(0) = α, b(0) = 0 = c(0) we have

0=K −α−0⇒K =α
so
K1 α ³ −K1 t ´
c(t) = α − αe−K1 t − e − e−K2 t
K2 − K 1
K2 K1
µ ¶
K1 t −K2 t
= α 1+ e − e
K1 − K 2 K1 − K 2