Rate equation - wikipedia Rate equation The rate law or rate equation for a chemical reaction is an equation that links the reaction rate with the concentrations or pressures of the reactants and constant parameters ( normally rate coefficients and partial reaction orders ). For many reactions the rate is given by a power law such as r = k ( A ) x ( B ) y ( displaystyle r ; = ; k ( mathrm ( A ) ) ^ ( x ) ( mathrm ( B ) ) ^ ( y ) ) where ( A ) and ( B ) express the concentration of the species A and B ( usually in moles per liter ( molarity, M ) ). The exponents x and y are the partial orders of reaction for A and B and the overall reaction order is the sum of the exponents. These are often positive integers, but they may also be zero, fractional, or negative. The constant k is the reaction rate constant or rate coefficient of the reaction and has units of 1 / time. Its value may depend on conditions such as temperature, ionic strength, surface area of an adsorbent, or light irradiation. Elementary ( single - step ) reactions have reaction orders equal to the stoichiometric coefficients for each reactant. The overall reaction order, i.e. the sum of stoichiometric coefficients of reactants, is always equal to the molecularity of the elementary reaction. Complex ( multi-step ) reactions may or may not have reaction orders equal to their stoichiometric coefficients. The rate equation of a reaction with an assumed multi-step mechanism can often be derived theoretically using quasi-steady state assumptions from the underlying elementary reactions, and compared with the experimental rate equation as a test of the assumed mechanism. The equation may involve a fractional order, and may depend on the concentration of an intermediate species. A reaction can also have an undefined reaction order with respect to a reactant if the rate is not simply proportional to some power of the concentration of that reactant ; for example, one can not talk about reaction order in the rate equation for a bimolecular reaction between adsorbed molecules : r = k K 1 K 2 C A C B ( 1 + K 1 C A + K 2 C B ) 2. ( displaystyle r = k ( \frac ( K_ ( 1 ) K_ ( 2 ) C_ ( A ) C_ ( B ) ) ( ( 1 + K_ ( 1 ) C_ ( A ) + K_ ( 2 ) C_ ( B ) ) ^ ( 2 ) ) ). , ) Contents 1 Determination of reaction order 1.1 Method of initial rates 1.2 Integral method 1.3 Method of flooding 2 Zero order 3 First order 4 Second order 5 Pseudo-first order 6 Summary for reaction orders 0, 1, 2, and n 7 Fractional order 8 Mixed order 9 Negative order 10 Opposed reactions 10.1 Simple example 10.2 Generalization of simple example 11 Consecutive reactions 12 Parallel or competitive reactions 12.1 Two first order reactions 12.2 One first order and one second order reaction 13 Stoichiometric reaction networks 14 General dynamics of unimolecular conversion 15 See also 16 References 17 External links Determination of reaction order The order of a reaction can not be deduced from the chemical equation of the reaction. It must be determined by experiment. Method of initial rates The order of a reaction for each reactant can be estimated from the variation in initial rate with the concentration of that reactant, using the natural logarithm of the typical rate equation ln ⁡ r = ln ⁡ k + x ln ⁡ ( A ) + y ln ⁡ ( B ) +... ( displaystyle ln r = ln k + x ln ( A ) + y ln ( B ) +... ) For example, the initial rate can be measured in a series of experiments at different initial concentrations of reactant A with all other concentrations ( B ), ( C ),... kept constant, so that ln ⁡ r = x ln ⁡ ( A ) + constant ( displaystyle ln r = x ln ( A ) + ( \textrm ( constant ) ) ) The slope of a graph of ln ⁡ r ( displaystyle ln r ) as a function of ln ⁡ ( A ) ( displaystyle ln ( A ) ) then corresponds to the order x with respect to reactant A. However, this method is not always reliable because measurement of the initial rate requires accurate determination of small changes in concentration in short times ( compared to the reaction half - life ) and is sensitive to errors, and the rate equation will not be completely determined if the rate also depends on substances not present at the beginning of the reaction, such as intermediates or products. Integral method The tentative rate equation determined by the method of initial rates is therefore normally verified by comparing the concentrations measured over a longer time ( several half - lives ) with the integrated form of the rate equation. For example, the integrated rate law for a first - order reaction is ln ⁡ ( A ) = − k t + ln ⁡ ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ln ( ( A ) ) = - kt+ ln ( ( A ) _ ( 0 ) ) ), where ( A ) is the concentration at time t and ( A ) is the initial concentration at zero time. The first - order rate law is confirmed if ln ⁡ ( A ) ( displaystyle ln ( ( A ) ) ) is in fact a linear function of time. In this case the rate constant k ( displaystyle k ) is equal to the slope with sign reversed. Method of flooding The partial order with respect to a given reactant can be evaluated by the method of flooding ( or of isolation ) of Ostwald. In this method, the concentration of one reactant is measured with all other reactants in large excess so that their concentration remains essentially constant. For a reaction a A + b B → c C with rate law : r = k ⋅ ( A ) α ⋅ ( B ) β ( displaystyle r = k cdot ( ( \rm ( A ) ) ) ^ ( alpha ) cdot ( ( \rm ( B ) ) ) ^ ( \beta ) ), the partial order α with respect to A is determined using a large excess of B. In this case r = k ′ ⋅ ( A ) α ( displaystyle r = k ' cdot ( ( \rm ( A ) ) ) ^ ( alpha ) ) with k ′ = k ⋅ ( B ) β ( displaystyle k ' = k cdot ( ( \rm ( B ) ) ) ^ ( \beta ) ), and α may be determined by the integral method. The order β with respect to B under the same conditions ( with B in excess ) is determined by a series of similar experiments with a range of initial concentration ( B ) so that the variation of k ' can be measured. Zero order For zero - order reactions, the reaction rate is independent of the concentration of a reactant, so that changing its concentration has no effect on the speed of the reaction. Thus, the concentration changes linearly with time. This may occur when there is a bottleneck which limits the number of reactant molecules that can react at the same time, for example if the reaction requires contact with an enzyme or a catalytic surface. Many enzyme - catalyzed reactions are zero order, provided that the reactant concentration is much greater than the enzyme concentration which controls the rate, so that the enzyme is saturated. For example, the biological oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by the enzyme liver alcohol dehydrogenase ( LADH ) is zero order in ethanol. Similarly reactions with heterogeneous catalysis can be zero order if the catalytic surface is saturated. For example, the decomposition of phosphine ( PH ) on a hot tungsten surface at high pressure is zero order in phosphine which decomposes at a constant rate. In homogeneous catalysis zero order behavior can come about from reversible inhibition. For example, ring - opening metathesis polymerization using third - generation Grubbs catalyst exhibits zero order behavior in catalyst due to the reversible inhibition that is occur between the pyridine and the ruthenium center. First order A first order reaction depends on the concentration of only one reactant ( a unimolecular reaction ). Other reactants can be present, but each will be zero order. The rate law for such a reaction is − d ( A ) d t = k ( A ), ( displaystyle - ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k ( ( ce ( A ) ) ), ) The half - life is independent of the starting concentration and is given by t 1 2 = ln ⁡ ( 2 ) k ( displaystyle t_ ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) = ( \frac ( ln ( ( 2 ) ) ) ( k ) ) ). Examples of such reactions are : H 2 O 2 ( l ) ⟶ H 2 O ( l ) + 1 2 O 2 ( g ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( H2O2 ( l ) - > ( H2O ( l ) ) + 1 / 2O2 ( g ) ) ) ) SO 2 Cl 2 ( l ) ⟶ SO 2 ( g ) + Cl 2 ( g ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( SO2Cl2 ( l ) - > ( SO2 ( g ) ) + Cl2 ( g ) ) ) ) 2 N 2 O 5 ( g ) ⟶ 4 NO 2 ( g ) + O 2 ( g ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( 2N2O5 ( g ) - > ( 4NO2 ( g ) ) + O2 ( g ) ) ) ) In organic chemistry, the class of S 1 ( nucleophilic substitution unimolecular ) reactions consists of first - order reactions. For example, in the reaction of aryldiazonium ions with nucleophiles in aqueous solution ArN + X → ArX + N, the rate equation is r = k ( ArN ), where Ar indicates an aryl group. Second order A reaction is said to be second order when the overall order is two. The rate of a second - order reaction may be proportional to one concentration squared r = k ( A ) 2 ( displaystyle r = k ( A ) ^ ( 2 ) , ), or ( more commonly ) to the product of two concentrations r = k ( A ) ( B ) ( displaystyle r = k ( A ) ( B ) , ). As an example of the first type, the reaction NO + CO → NO + CO is second - order in the reactant NO and zero order in the reactant CO. The observed rate is given by r = k ( NO 2 ) 2 ( displaystyle r = k ( ( ( ce ( NO2 ) ) ) ) ^ ( 2 ) , ), and is independent of the concentration of CO. For the rate proportional to a single concentration squared, the time dependence of the concentration is given by 1 ( A ) = 1 ( A ) 0 + kt ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( A ) ) ) = ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( A ) 0 ) ) + kt ) ) ) The time dependence for a rate proportional to two unequal concentrations is ( A ) ( B ) = ( A ) 0 ( B ) 0 e ( ( A ) 0 − ( B ) 0 ) kt ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( \frac ( ( A ) ) ( ( B ) ) ) = ( \frac ( ( A ) 0 ) ( ( B ) 0 ) ) ( mathit ( e ) ) ^ ( ( ( A ) 0 - ( B ) 0 ) ( mathit ( kt ) ) ) ) ) ) ; if the concentrations are equal, they satisfy the previous equation. The second type includes nucleophillic addition - elimination reactions, such as the alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl acetate : CH COOC H + OH → CH COO + C H OH This reaction is first - order in each reactant and second - order overall : r = k ( CH COOC H ) ( OH ) If the same hydrolysis reaction is catalyzed by imidazole, the rate equation becomes r = k ( imidazole ) ( CH COOC H ). The rate is first - order in one reactant ( ethyl acetate ), and also first - order in imidazole which as a catalyst does not appear in the overall chemical equation. Another well - known class of second - order reactions are the S 2 ( bimolecular nucleophilic substitution ) reactions, such as the reaction of n - butyl bromide with sodium iodide in acetone : CH CH CH CH Br + NaI → CH CH CH CH I + NaBr ↓ This same compound can be made to undergo a bimolecular ( E2 ) elimination reaction, another common type of second - order reaction, if the sodium iodide and acetone are replaced with sodium tert - butoxide as the salt and tert - butanol as the solvent : CH CH CH CH Br + NaOt - Bu → CH CH CH = CH + NaBr + HOt - Bu Pseudo-first order If the concentration of a reactant remains constant ( because it is a catalyst, or because it is in great excess with respect to the other reactants ), its concentration can be included in the rate constant, obtaining a pseudo -- first - order ( or occasionally pseudo -- second - order ) rate equation. For a typical second - order reaction with rate equation r = k ( A ) ( B ), if the concentration of reactant B is constant then r = k ( A ) ( B ) = k ' ( A ), where the pseudo -- first - order rate constant k ' = k ( B ). The second - order rate equation has been reduced to a pseudo -- first - order rate equation, which makes the treatment to obtain an integrated rate equation much easier. One way to obtain a pseudo-first order reaction is to use a large excess of one reactant ( say, ( B ) ≫ ( A ) ) so that, as the reaction progresses, only a small fraction of the reactant in excess ( B ) is consumed, and its concentration can be considered to stay constant. For example, the hydrolysis of esters by dilute mineral acids follows pseudo-first order kinetics where the concentration of water is present in large excess : CH COOCH + H O → CH COOH + CH OH The hydrolysis of sucrose in acid solution is often cited as a first - order reaction with rate r = k ( sucrose ). The true rate equation is third - order, r = k ( sucrose ) ( H ) ( H O ) ; however, the concentrations of both the catalyst H and the solvent H O are normally constant, so that the reaction is pseudo -- first - order. Summary for reaction orders 0, 1, 2, and N Elementary reaction steps with order 3 ( called ternary reactions ) are rare and unlikely to occur. However, overall reactions composed of several elementary steps can, of course, be of any ( including non-integer ) order. Zero order First order Second order nth order Rate Law − d ( A ) / d t = k ( displaystyle - ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) / ( dt ) = k ) − d ( A ) / d t = k ( A ) ( displaystyle - ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) / ( dt ) = k ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) − d ( A ) / d t = k ( A ) 2 ( displaystyle - ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) / ( dt ) = k ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( 2 ) ) − d ( A ) / d t = k ( A ) n ( displaystyle - ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) / ( dt ) = k ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( n ) ) Integrated Rate Law ( A ) = ( A ) 0 − k t ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) = ( A ) 0 ) ) - kt ) ( A ) = ( A ) 0 e − k t ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) = ( A ) 0 ) ) e ^ ( - kt ) ) 1 ( A ) = 1 ( A ) 0 + k t ( displaystyle ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( ( A ) ) ) ) ) = ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ) + kt ) 1 ( A ) n − 1 = 1 ( A ) 0 n − 1 + ( n − 1 ) k t ( displaystyle ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( n - 1 ) ) ) = ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ^ ( n - 1 ) ) ) + ( n - 1 ) kt ) ( Except first order ) Units of Rate Constant ( k ) M s ( displaystyle ( \rm ( \frac ( M ) ( s ) ) ) ) 1 s ( displaystyle ( \rm ( \frac ( 1 ) ( s ) ) ) ) 1 M ⋅ s ( displaystyle ( \rm ( \frac ( 1 ) ( M cdot s ) ) ) ) 1 M n − 1 ⋅ s ( displaystyle ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( \rm ( M ) ) ^ ( n - 1 ) cdot ( \rm ( s ) ) ) ) ) Linear Plot to determine k ( A ) vs. t ln ⁡ ( ( A ) ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( ln ( ( A ) ) ) ) ) vs. t 1 ( A ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( A ) ) ) ) ) ) vs. t 1 ( A ) n − 1 ( displaystyle ( ce ( \frac ( 1 ) ( ( A ) ^ ( ( mathit ( n ) ) - 1 ) ) ) ) ) vs. t ( Except first order ) Half - life t 1 2 = ( A ) 0 2 k ( displaystyle t_ ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) = ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ( 2k ) ) ) t 1 2 = ln ⁡ ( 2 ) k ( displaystyle t_ ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) = ( \frac ( ln ( 2 ) ) ( k ) ) ) t 1 2 = 1 k ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle t_ ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) = ( \frac ( 1 ) ( k ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ) ) t 1 2 = lim x → n 2 x − 1 − 1 ( x − 1 ) k ( A ) 0 x − 1 ( displaystyle t_ ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) = lim _ ( x \to n ) ( \frac ( 2 ^ ( x-1 ) - 1 ) ( ( x-1 ) k ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ^ ( x-1 ) ) ) ) ( limit only necessary in first order ) Where M stands for concentration in molarity ( mol L ), t for time, and k for the reaction rate constant. The half - life of a first order reaction is often expressed as t = 0.693 / k ( as ln2 = 0.693 ). Fractional order In fractional order reactions, the order is a non-integer, which often indicates a chemical chain reaction or other complex reaction mechanism. For example, the pyrolysis of acetaldehyde ( CH CHO ) into methane and carbon monoxide proceeds with an order of 1.5 with respect to acetaldehyde : r = k ( CH CHO ). The decomposition of phosgene ( COCl ) to carbon monoxide and chlorine has order 1 with respect to phosgene itself and order 0.5 with respect to chlorine : r = k ( COCl ) ( Cl ). The order of a chain reaction can be rationalized using the steady state approximation for the concentration of reactive intermediates such as free radicals. For the pyrolysis of acetaldehyde, the Rice - Herzfeld mechanism is Initiation CH CHO → CH + CHO Propagation CH + CH CHO → CH CO + CH CH CO → CH + CO Termination 2 CH → C H where denotes a free radical. To simplify the theory, the reactions of the CHO to form a second CH are ignored. In the steady state, the rates of formation and destruction of methyl radicals are equal, so that d ( ⋅ CH 3 ) d t = k i ( CH 3 CHO ) − k t ( ⋅ CH 3 ) 2 = 0 ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ( ce (. CH3 ) ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( i ) ( ( ( ce ( CH3CHO ) ) ) ) - k_ ( t ) ( ( ( ce (. CH3 ) ) ) ) ^ ( 2 ) = 0 ), so that the concentration of methyl radical satisfies ( ⋅ CH 3 ) ∝ ( CH 3 CHO ) 1 2 ( displaystyle ( ce ( (. CH3 ) quad propto quad ( CH3CHO ) ^ ( 1 / 2 ) ) ) ). The reaction rate equals the rate of the propagation steps which form the main reaction products CH and CO : v = d ( CH 4 ) d t = k p ( ⋅ CH 3 ) ( CH 3 CHO ) ∝ ( CH 3 CHO ) 3 2 ( displaystyle v = ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( CH4 ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( p ) ( ce ( (. CH3 ) ( CH3CHO ) ) ) quad propto quad ( ce ( ( CH3CHO ) ^ ( 3 / 2 ) ) ) ) in agreement with the experimental order of 3 / 2. Mixed order More complex rate laws have been described as being mixed order if they approximate to the laws for more than one order at different concentrations of the chemical species involved. For example, a rate law of the form r = k 1 ( A ) + k 2 ( A ) 2 ( displaystyle r = k_ ( 1 ) ( A ) + k_ ( 2 ) ( A ) ^ ( 2 ) ) represents concurrent first order and second order reactions ( or more often concurrent pseudo-first order and second order ) reactions, and can be described as mixed first and second order. For sufficiently large values of ( A ) such a reaction will approximate second order kinetics, but for smaller ( A ) the kinetics will approximate first order ( or pseudo-first order ). As the reaction progresses, the reaction can change from second order to first order as reactant is consumed. Another type of mixed - order rate law has a denominator of two or more terms, often because the identity of the rate - determining step depends on the values of the concentrations. An example is the oxidation of an alcohol to a ketone by hexacyanoferrate ( III ) ion ( Fe ( CN ) ) with ruthenate ( VI ) ion ( RuO ) as catalyst. For this reaction, the rate of disappearance of hexacyanoferrate ( III ) is r = ( Fe ( CN ) 6 ) 2 − k α + k β ( Fe ( CN ) 6 ) 2 − ( displaystyle r = ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( Fe ( CN ) 6 ) ^ 2 - ) ) ) ( k_ ( alpha ) + k_ ( \beta ) ( ce ( ( Fe ( CN ) 6 ) ^ 2 - ) ) ) ) ) This is zero - order with respect to hexacyanoferrate ( III ) at the onset of the reaction ( when its concentration is high and the ruthenium catalyst is quickly regenerated ), but changes to first - order when its concentration decreases and the regeneration of catalyst becomes rate - determining. Notable mechanisms with mixed - order rate laws with two - term denominators include : Michaelis - Menten kinetics for enzyme - catalysis : first - order in substrate ( second - order overall ) at low substrate concentrations, zero order in substrate ( first - order overall ) at higher substrate concentrations ; and the Lindemann mechanism for unimolecular reactions : second - order at low pressures, first - order at high pressures. Negative order A reaction rate can have a negative partial order with respect to a substance. For example, the conversion of ozone ( O ) to oxygen follows the rate equation r = k ( O 3 ) 2 ( O 2 ) ( displaystyle r = k ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( O_3 ) ^ 2 ) ) ) ( ( ce ( ( O_2 ) ) ) ) ) , ) in an excess of oxygen. This corresponds to second order in ozone and order ( - 1 ) with respect to oxygen. When a partial order is negative, the overall order is usually considered as undefined. In the above example for instance, the reaction is not described as first order even though the sum of the partial orders is 2 + ( − 1 ) = 1, because the rate equation is more complex than that of a simple first - order reaction. Opposed reactions A pair of forward and reverse reactions may occur simultaneously with comparable speeds. For example, A and B react into X and Y and vice versa ( s, t, u, and v are the stoichiometric coefficients ) : s A + t B ↽ − − ⇀ u X + v Y ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( ( mathit ( s ) ) A ) + ( mathit ( t ) ) B < = > ( ( mathit ( u ) ) X ) + ( ( mathit ( v ) ) Y ) ) ) ) The reaction rate expression for the above reactions ( assuming each one is elementary ) can be expressed as : r = k 1 ( A ) s ( B ) t − k 2 ( X ) u ( Y ) v ( displaystyle r = ( k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( s ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ^ ( t ) ) - ( k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( X ) ) ) ^ ( u ) ( ( ce ( Y ) ) ) ^ ( v ) ) , ) where : k is the rate coefficient for the reaction that consumes A and B ; k is the rate coefficient for the backwards reaction, which consumes X and Y and produces A and B. The constants k and k are related to the equilibrium coefficient for the reaction ( K ) by the following relationship ( set r = 0 in balance ) : k 1 ( A ) s ( B ) t = k 2 ( X ) u ( Y ) v ( displaystyle ( k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( s ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ^ ( t ) = k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( X ) ) ) ^ ( u ) ( ( ce ( Y ) ) ) ^ ( v ) ) , ) K = ( X ) u ( Y ) v ( A ) s ( B ) t = k 1 k 2 ( displaystyle K = ( \frac ( ( ( ce ( X ) ) ) ^ ( u ) ( ( ce ( Y ) ) ) ^ ( v ) ) ( ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( s ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ^ ( t ) ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) ) ( k_ ( 2 ) ) ) ) Concentration of A ( A = 0.25 mole / l ) and B versus time reaching equilibrium k = 2 min and k = 1 min Simple example In a simple equilibrium between two species : A ↽ − − ⇀ B ( displaystyle ( ce ( A < = > B ) ) ) Where the reactions starts with an initial concentration of A, ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ), with an initial concentration of 0 for B at time t = 0. Then the constant K at equilibrium is expressed as : K = d e f k f k b = ( B ) e ( A ) e ( displaystyle K ( stackrel ( mathrm ( def ) ) ( = ) ) ( \frac ( k_ ( f ) ) ( k_ ( b ) ) ) = ( \frac ( left ( ( ce ( B ) ) \right ) _ ( e ) ) ( left ( ( ce ( A ) ) \right ) _ ( e ) ) ) ) Where ( A ) e ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( e ) ) and ( B ) e ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( e ) ) are the concentrations of A and B at equilibrium, respectively. The concentration of A at time t, ( A ) t ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( t ) ), is related to the concentration of B at time t, ( B ) t ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( t ) ), by the equilibrium reaction equation : ( A ) t = ( A ) 0 − ( B ) t ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) _ ( mathit ( t ) ) = ( A ) 0 - ( B ) _ ( mathit ( t ) ) ) ) ) Note that the term ( B ) 0 ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) ) is not present because, in this simple example, the initial concentration of B is 0. This applies even when time t is at infinity ; i.e., equilibrium has been reached : ( A ) e = ( A ) 0 − ( B ) e ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) _ ( mathit ( e ) ) = ( A ) 0 - ( B ) _ ( mathit ( e ) ) ) ) ) then it follows, by the definition of K, that ( B ) e = x = k f k f + k b ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( e ) = x = ( \frac ( k_ ( f ) ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) and, therefore, ( A ) e = ( A ) 0 − x = k b k f + k b ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( e ) = ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) - x = ( \frac ( k_ ( b ) ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) These equations allow us to uncouple the system of differential equations, and allow us to solve for the concentration of A alone. The reaction equation, given previously as : r = k 1 ( A ) s ( B ) t − k 2 ( X ) u ( Y ) v ( displaystyle r = ( k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ^ ( s ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ^ ( t ) ) - ( k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( X ) ) ) ^ ( u ) ( ( ce ( Y ) ) ) ^ ( v ) ) , ) − d ( A ) d t = k f ( A ) t − k b ( B ) t ( displaystyle - ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = ( k_ ( f ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( t ) ) - ( k_ ( b ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( t ) ) , ) The derivative is negative because this is the rate of the reaction going from A to B, and therefore the concentration of A is decreasing. To simplify annotation, let x be ( A ) t ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( t ) ), the concentration of A at time t. Let x e ( displaystyle x_ ( e ) ) be the concentration of A at equilibrium. Then : − d ( A ) d t = k f ( A ) t − k b ( B ) t − d x d t = k f x − k b ( B ) t = k f x − k b ( ( A ) 0 − x ) = ( k f + k b ) x − k b ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ( \begin ( aligned ) - ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) & = ( k_ ( f ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( t ) ) - ( k_ ( b ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( t ) ) - ( \frac ( dx ) ( dt ) ) & = ( k_ ( f ) x ) - ( k_ ( b ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) _ ( t ) ) & = ( k_ ( f ) x ) - ( k_ ( b ) ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) - x ) ) & = ( ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) x ) - ( k_ ( b ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) end ( aligned ) ) ) Since : k f + k b = k b ( A ) 0 x e ( displaystyle k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) = ( k_ ( b ) ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ( x_ ( e ) ) ) ) ) The reaction rate becomes : d x d t = k b ( A ) 0 x e ( x e − x ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( dx ) ( dt ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( b ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ( x_ ( e ) ) ) ( x_ ( e ) - x ) ) which results in : ln ⁡ ( ( A ) 0 − ( A ) e ( A ) t − ( A ) e ) = ( k f + k b ) t ( displaystyle ln left ( ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) - ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( e ) ) ( ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( t ) - ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) _ ( e ) ) ) \right ) = ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) t ) A plot of the negative natural logarithm of the concentration of A in time minus the concentration at equilibrium versus time t gives a straight line with slope k + k. By measurement of A and B the values of K and the two reaction rate constants will be known. Generalization of simple example If the concentration at the time t = 0 is different from above, the simplifications above are invalid, and a system of differential equations must be solved. However, this system can also be solved exactly to yield the following generalized expressions : ( A ) = ( A ) 0 1 k f + k b ( k b + k f e − ( k f + k b ) t ) + ( B ) 0 k b k f + k b ( 1 − e − ( k f + k b ) t ) ( displaystyle left ( ( ce ( A ) ) \right ) = ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( \frac ( 1 ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) left ( k_ ( b ) + k_ ( f ) e ^ ( - left ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) \right ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) ( \frac ( k_ ( b ) ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - left ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) \right ) t ) \right ) ) ( B ) = ( A ) 0 k f k f + k b ( 1 − e − ( k f + k b ) t ) + ( B ) 0 1 k f + k b ( k f + k b e − ( k f + k b ) t ) ( displaystyle left ( ( ce ( B ) ) \right ) = ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( \frac ( k_ ( f ) ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - left ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) \right ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) ( \frac ( 1 ) ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) ) ) left ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) e ^ ( - left ( k_ ( f ) + k_ ( b ) \right ) t ) \right ) ) When the equilibrium constant is close to unity and the reaction rates very fast for instance in conformational analysis of molecules, other methods are required for the determination of rate constants for instance by complete lineshape analysis in NMR spectroscopy. Consecutive reactions If the rate constants for the following reaction are k 1 ( displaystyle k_ ( 1 ) ) and k 2 ( displaystyle k_ ( 2 ) ) ; A ⟶ B ⟶ C ( displaystyle ( ce ( A - > B - > C ) ) ), then the rate equation is : For reactant A : d ( A ) d t = − k 1 ( A ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = - k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) For reactant B : d ( B ) d t = k 1 ( A ) − k 2 ( B ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) - k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ) For product C : d ( C ) d t = k 2 ( B ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( C ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ) With the individual concentrations scaled by the total population of reactants to become probabilities, linear systems of differential equations such as these can be formulated as a master equation. The differential equations can be solved analytically and the integrated rate equations are ( A ) = ( A ) 0 e − k 1 t ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) = ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) ) ( B ) = ( ( A ) 0 k 1 k 2 − k 1 ( e − k 1 t − e − k 2 t ) + ( B ) 0 e − k 2 t k 1 ≠ k 2 ( A ) 0 k 1 t e − k 1 t + ( B ) 0 e − k 1 t otherwise ( displaystyle left ( ( ce ( B ) ) \right ) = ( \begin ( cases ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) ) ( k_ ( 2 ) - k_ ( 1 ) ) ) left ( e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) - e ^ ( - k_ ( 2 ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) e ^ ( - k_ ( 2 ) t ) &k_ ( 1 ) \neq k_ ( 2 ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) k_ ( 1 ) te ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) & ( \text ( otherwise ) ) end ( cases ) ) ) ( C ) = ( ( A ) 0 ( 1 + k 1 e − k 2 t − k 2 e − k 1 t k 2 − k 1 ) + ( B ) 0 ( 1 − e − k 2 t ) + ( C ) 0 k 1 ≠ k 2 ( A ) 0 ( 1 − e − k 1 t − k 1 t e − k 1 t ) + ( B ) 0 ( 1 − e − k 1 t ) + ( C ) 0 otherwise ( displaystyle left ( ( ce ( C ) ) \right ) = ( \begin ( cases ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) left ( 1 + ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) e ^ ( - k_ ( 2 ) t ) - k_ ( 2 ) e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) ) ( k_ ( 2 ) - k_ ( 1 ) ) ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - k_ ( 2 ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( C ) 0 ) ) &k_ ( 1 ) \neq k_ ( 2 ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) - k_ ( 1 ) te ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( B ) 0 ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) t ) \right ) + ( ce ( ( C ) 0 ) ) & ( \text ( otherwise ) ) end ( cases ) ) ) The steady state approximation leads to very similar results in an easier way. Parallel or competitive reactions Time course of two first order, competitive reactions with differing rate constants. When a substance reacts simultaneously to give two different products, a parallel or competitive reaction is said to take place. Two first order reactions A ⟶ B ( displaystyle ( ce ( A - > B ) ) ) and A ⟶ C ( displaystyle ( ce ( A - > C ) ) ), with constants k 1 ( displaystyle k_ ( 1 ) ) and k 2 ( displaystyle k_ ( 2 ) ) and rate equations − d ( A ) d t = ( k 1 + k 2 ) ( A ) ( displaystyle - ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ; d ( B ) d t = k 1 ( A ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 1 ) ( ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) ) and d ( C ) d t = k 2 ( A ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( C ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 2 ) ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) The integrated rate equations are then ( A ) = ( A ) 0 e − ( k 1 + k 2 ) t ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) = ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) e ^ ( - ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) t ) ) ; ( B ) = k 1 k 1 + k 2 ( A ) 0 ( 1 − e − ( k 1 + k 2 ) t ) ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) ) ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( 1 - e ^ ( - ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) t ) ) ) and ( C ) = k 2 k 1 + k 2 ( A ) 0 ( 1 − e − ( k 1 + k 2 ) t ) ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( C ) ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( 2 ) ) ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( 1 - e ^ ( - ( k_ ( 1 ) + k_ ( 2 ) ) t ) ) ). One important relationship in this case is ( B ) ( C ) = k 1 k 2 ( displaystyle ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( B ) ) ) ) ( ( ce ( ( C ) ) ) ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) ) ( k_ ( 2 ) ) ) ) One first order and one second order reaction This can be the case when studying a bimolecular reaction and a simultaneous hydrolysis ( which can be treated as pseudo order one ) takes place : the hydrolysis complicates the study of the reaction kinetics, because some reactant is being `` spent '' in a parallel reaction. For example, A reacts with R to give our product C, but meanwhile the hydrolysis reaction takes away an amount of A to give B, a byproduct : A + H 2 O ⟶ B ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) + H2O - > B ) ) ) and A + R ⟶ C ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( A ) + R - > C ) ) ). The rate equations are : d ( B ) d t = k 1 ( A ) ( H 2 O ) = k 1 ′ ( A ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 1 ) ( ce ( ( A ) ( H2O ) ) ) = k_ ( 1 ) ' ( ( ce ( A ) ) ) ) and d ( C ) d t = k 2 ( A ) ( R ) ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( C ) ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = k_ ( 2 ) ( ce ( ( A ) ( R ) ) ) ). Where k 1 ′ ( displaystyle k_ ( 1 ) ' ) is the pseudo first order constant. The integrated rate equation for the main product ( C ) is ( C ) = ( R ) 0 ( 1 − e − k 2 k 1 ′ ( A ) 0 ( 1 − e − k 1 ′ t ) ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( C ) = ( R ) 0 ) ) left ( 1 - e ^ ( - ( \frac ( k_ ( 2 ) ) ( k_ ( 1 ) ' ) ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ( 1 - e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) 't ) ) ) \right ) ), which is equivalent to ln ⁡ ( R ) 0 ( R ) 0 − ( C ) = k 2 ( A ) 0 k 1 ′ ( 1 − e − k 1 ′ t ) ( displaystyle ln ( \frac ( ( ce ( ( R ) 0 ) ) ) ( ( ce ( ( R ) 0 - ( C ) ) ) ) ) = ( \frac ( k_ ( 2 ) ( ce ( ( A ) 0 ) ) ) ( k_ ( 1 ) ' ) ) ( 1 - e ^ ( - k_ ( 1 ) 't ) ) ). Concentration of B is related to that of C through ( B ) = − k 1 ′ k 2 l n ( 1 − ( C ) ( R ) 0 ) ( displaystyle ( ( ce ( B ) ) ) = - ( \frac ( k_ ( 1 ) ' ) ( k_ ( 2 ) ) ) ln left ( 1 - ( \frac ( ce ( ( C ) ) ) ( ( R ) 0 ) ) \right ) ) The integrated equations were analytically obtained but during the process it was assumed that ( A ) 0 − ( C ) ≈ ( A ) 0 ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( ( A ) 0 ) - ( C ) approx ( A ) 0 ) ) ) therefeore, previous equation for ( C ) can only be used for low concentrations of ( C ) compared to ( A ) Stoichiometric reaction networks The most general description of a chemical reaction network considers a number N ( displaystyle N ) of distinct chemical species reacting via R ( displaystyle R ) reactions. The chemical equation of the j ( displaystyle j ) - th reaction can then be written in the generic form s 1 j X 1 + s 2 j X 2... + s N j X N → k j r 1 j X 1 + r 2 j X 2 +... + r N j X N, ( displaystyle s_ ( 1j ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( 1 ) + s_ ( 2j ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( 2 ) ldots + s_ ( Nj ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( N ) ( ce ( - > ( k_ ( j ) ) ) ) \r_ ( 1j ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( 1 ) + \r_ ( 2j ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( 2 ) + ldots + r_ ( Nj ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( N ), ) which is often written in the equivalent form ∑ i = 1 N s i j X i → k j ∑ i = 1 N r i j X i. ( displaystyle sum _ ( i = 1 ) ^ ( N ) s_ ( ij ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( i ) ( ce ( - > ( k_ ( j ) ) ) ) sum _ ( i = 1 ) ^ ( N ) \r_ ( ij ) ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( i ). ) Here j ( displaystyle j ) is the reaction index running from 1 to R ( displaystyle R ), X i ( displaystyle ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( i ) ) denotes the i ( displaystyle i ) - th chemical species, k j ( displaystyle k_ ( j ) ) is the rate constant of the j ( displaystyle j ) - th reaction and s i j ( displaystyle s_ ( ij ) ) and r i j ( displaystyle r_ ( ij ) ) are the stoichiometric coefficients of reactants and products, respectively. The rate of such reaction can be inferred by the law of mass action f j ( ( X → ) ) = k j ∏ z = 1 N ( X z ) s z j ( displaystyle f_ ( j ) ( ( ( \vec ( ce ( X ) ) ) ) ) = k_ ( j ) prod _ ( z = 1 ) ^ ( N ) ( ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( z ) ) ^ ( s_ ( zj ) ) ) which denotes the flux of molecules per unit time and unit volume. Here ( X → ) = ( ( X 1 ), ( X 2 ), ⋅ ⋅ ⋅, ( X N ) ) ( displaystyle ( ce ( ( ( \vec ( X ) ) ) = ( ( X1 ), ( X2 ),..., ( X_ ( mathit ( N ) ) ) ) ) ) ) is the vector of concentrations. Note that this definition includes the elementary reactions : zero order reactions for which s z j = 0 ( displaystyle s_ ( zj ) = 0 ) for all z ( displaystyle z ), first order reactions for which s z j = 1 ( displaystyle s_ ( zj ) = 1 ) for a single z ( displaystyle z ), second order reactions for which s z j = 1 ( displaystyle s_ ( zj ) = 1 ) for exactly two z ( displaystyle z ), i.e., a bimolecular reaction, or s z j = 2 ( displaystyle s_ ( zj ) = 2 ) for a single z ( displaystyle z ), i.e., a dimerization reaction. Each of which are discussed in detail below. One can define the stoichiometric matrix S i j = r i j − s i j, ( displaystyle S_ ( ij ) = r_ ( ij ) - s_ ( ij ), ) denoting the net extent of molecules of i ( displaystyle i ) in reaction j ( displaystyle j ). The reaction rate equations can then be written in the general form d ( X i ) d t = ∑ j = 1 R S i j f j ( ( X → ) ). ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( i ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = sum _ ( j = 1 ) ^ ( R ) S_ ( ij ) f_ ( j ) ( ( ( \vec ( ce ( X ) ) ) ) ). ) Note that this is the product of the stoichiometric matrix and the vector of reaction rate functions. Particular simple solutions exist in equilibrium, d ( X i ) d t = 0 ( displaystyle ( \frac ( d ( ( ce ( X ) ) _ ( i ) ) ) ( dt ) ) = 0 ), for systems composed of merely reversible reactions. In this case the rate of the forward and backward reactions are equal, a principle called detailed balance. Note that detailed balance is a property of the stoichiometric matrix S i j ( displaystyle S_ ( ij ) ) alone and does not depend on the particular form of the rate functions f j ( displaystyle f_ ( j ) ). All other cases where detailed balance is violated are commonly studied by flux balance analysis which has been developed to understand metabolic pathways. General dynamics of unimolecular conversion For a general unimolecular reaction involving interconversion of N ( displaystyle N ) different species, whose concentrations at time t ( displaystyle t ) are denoted by X 1 ( t ) ( displaystyle X_ ( 1 ) ( t ) ) through X N ( t ) ( displaystyle X_ ( N ) ( t ) ), an analytic form for the time - evolution of the species can be found. Let the rate constant of conversion from species X i ( displaystyle X_ ( i ) ) to species X j ( displaystyle X_ ( j ) ) be denoted as k i j ( displaystyle k_ ( ij ) ), and construct a rate - constant matrix K ( displaystyle K ) whose entries are the k i j ( displaystyle k_ ( ij ) ). Also, let X ( t ) = ( X 1 ( t ), X 2 ( t ),..., X N ( t ) ) T ( displaystyle X ( t ) = ( X_ ( 1 ) ( t ), X_ ( 2 ) ( t ),..., X_ ( N ) ( t ) ) ^ ( T ) ) be the vector of concentrations as a function of time. Let J = ( 1, 1, 1,..., 1 ) T ( displaystyle J = ( 1, 1, 1,..., 1 ) ^ ( T ) ) be the vector of ones. Let I ( displaystyle I ) be the N ( displaystyle N ) × N ( displaystyle N ) identity matrix. Let D i a g ( displaystyle Diag ) be the function that takes a vector and constructs a diagonal matrix whose on - diagonal entries are those of the vector. Let L − 1 ( displaystyle displaystyle ( mathcal ( L ) ) ^ ( - 1 ) ) be the inverse Laplace transform from s ( displaystyle s ) to t ( displaystyle t ). Then the time - evolved state X ( t ) ( displaystyle X ( t ) ) is given by X ( t ) = L − 1 ( ( s I + D i a g ( K J ) − K T ) − 1 X ( 0 ) ) ( displaystyle X ( t ) = displaystyle ( mathcal ( L ) ) ^ ( - 1 ) ( ( sI + Diag ( KJ ) - K ^ ( T ) ) ^ ( - 1 ) X ( 0 ) ) ), thus providing the relation between the initial conditions of the system and its state at time t ( displaystyle t ). See also Michaelis -- Menten kinetics Molecularity Petersen matrix Reaction - diffusion equation Reactions on surfaces : rate equations for reactions where at least one of the reactants adsorbs onto a surface Reaction progress kinetic analysis Reaction rate Reaction rate constant Steady state approximation References Jump up ^ IUPAC Gold Book definition of rate law. See also : According to IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology. Jump up ^ P. Atkins and J. de Paula, Physical Chemistry ( 8th ed., W.H. Freeman 2006 ), pp. 797 -- 8 ISBN 0 - 7167 - 8759 - 8 Jump up ^ Espenson, J.H. Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms ( 2nd ed., McGraw - Hill 2002 ) pp. 5 -- 8 ISBN 0 - 07 - 288362 - 6 Jump up ^ Atkins and de Paula pp. 798 -- 800 Jump up ^ Espenson, pp. 15 -- 18 Jump up ^ Espenson, pp. 30 -- 31 ^ Jump up to : Atkins and de Paula p. 796 Jump up ^ Tinoco, Sauer and Wang p. 331 Jump up ^ Walsh, Dylan J. ; Lau, Sii Hong ; Hyatt, Michael G. ; Guironnet, Damien ( 2017 - 09 - 25 ). `` Kinetic Study of Living Ring - Opening Metathesis Polymerization with Third - Generation Grubbs Catalysts ''. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 139 ( 39 ) : 13644 -- 13647. doi : 10.1021 / jacs. 7b08010. ISSN 0002 - 7863. ^ Jump up to : Kenneth A. Connors Chemical Kinetics, the study of reaction rates in solution, 1990, VCH Publishers ISBN 0471720208 Jump up ^ Whitten K.W., Galley K.D. and Davis R.E. General Chemistry ( 4th edition, Saunders 1992 ), pp. 638 -- 9 ISBN 0 - 03 - 072373 - 6 Jump up ^ I. Tinoco, K. Sauer and J.C. Wang Physical Chemistry. Principles and Applications in Biological Sciences. ( 3rd ed., Prentice - Hall 1995 ) pp. 328 -- 9 ISBN 0 - 13 - 186545 - 5 ^ Jump up to : NDRL Radiation Chemistry Data Center. See also : Christos Capellos and Bennon H. Bielski `` Kinetic systems : mathematical description of chemical kinetics in solution '' 1972, Wiley - Interscience ( New York ) Archived 2013 - 04 - 14 at Archive.is. ^ Jump up to : Atkins and de Paula, p. 830 Jump up ^ Laidler K.J. Chemical Kinetics ( 3rd ed., Harper & Row 1987 ), p. 301 ISBN 0 - 06 - 043862 - 2 ^ Jump up to : Laidler, pp. 310 -- 311 Jump up ^ Espenson J.H. Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms ( 2nd ed., McGraw - Hill 2002 ), p. 34 and p. 60 ISBN 0 - 07 - 288362 - 6 Jump up ^ Ruthenium ( VI ) - Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols by Hexacyanoferrate ( III ) : An Example of Mixed Order Mucientes, Antonio E, ; de la Peña, María A. Journal of Chemical Education 2006 83 1643. Abstract Jump up ^ Laidler K.J. Chemical Kinetics ( 3rd ed., Harper & Row 1987 ), p. 305 ISBN 0 - 06 - 043862 - 2 Jump up ^ For a worked out example see : Determination of the Rotational Barrier for Kinetically Stable Conformational Isomers via NMR and 2D TLC An Introductory Organic Chemistry Experiment Gregory T. Rushton, William G. Burns, Judi M. Lavin, Yong S. Chong, Perry Pellechia, and Ken D. Shimizu Journal of Chemical Education 2007, 84, 1499. Abstract Jump up ^ José A. Manso et al. `` A Kinetic Approach to the Alkylating Potential of Carcinogenic Lactones '', Chemical Research in Toxicology 2005, 18, ( 7 ) 1161 -- 1166 Jump up ^ Heinrich, R. and Schuster, S. ( 1996 ) The regulation of cellular systems. Chapman & Hall, New York. Jump up ^ Chen, L. and Wang, R. and Li, C. and Aihara, K. ( 2010 ) Modeling biomolecular networks in cells : structures and dynamics. Springer. Jump up ^ Szallasi, Z. and Stelling, J. and Periwal, V. ( 2006 ) System modeling in cell biology : from concepts to nuts and bolts. MIT Press Cambridge. Jump up ^ Iglesias, P.A. and Ingalls, B.P. ( 2010 ) Control theory and systems biology. MIT Press Cambridge. External links Chemical kinetics, reaction rate, and order ( needs flash player ) Reaction kinetics, examples of important rate laws ( lecture with audio ). Rates of Reaction Basic reaction mechanisms Nucleophilic substitutions Unimolecular nucleophilic substitution ( S 1 ) Bimolecular nucleophilic substitution ( S 2 ) Nucleophilic aromatic substitution ( S Ar ) Nucleophilic internal substitution ( S i ) Nucleophilic acyl substitution Elimination reactions Unimolecular elimination ( E1 ) E1cB - elimination reaction Bimolecular elimination ( E2 ) Addition reactions Electrophilic addition Nucleophilic addition Free - radical addition Cycloaddition Related topics Elementary reaction Molecularity Stereochemistry Catalysis Collision theory Solvent effects Arrow pushing Chemical kinetics Rate equation Rate - determining step Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rate_equation&oldid=850462308 '' Categories : Chemical reactions Chemical kinetics Chemical reaction engineering Hidden categories : Webarchive template archiveis links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Čeština Cymraeg Deutsch Ελληνικά فارسی Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Magyar Македонски 日本 語 Polski Português Română Simple English Српски / srpski தமிழ் Türkçe 中文 12 more Edit links This page was last edited on 16 July 2018, at 01 : 09 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the k in the rate law equation
Answer: reaction rate constant