BASIC PRINCIPLES
Review
For the experimentally determined rate of reaction, r a [NO]2[O2], it can be stated that
Overall Order = 3, Order wrt NO = 2, Order wrt O2 = 1.
Rate Constants
Returning again to the simple reaction, A → B, with a rate of reaction,
Rate a [A]n
It can be stated that, Rate = k[A]n
The proportionality constant is called the rate constant and is usually denoted by k.
Note: The units of k depend on the order of the reaction. (Remember that the units of the rate of reaction are always mol dm-3 s-1.)
Review Question
For the experimentally determined rate of reaction, r = k[F•][H2], the units of the rate constant (k) will be
dm3 mol-1 s-1