Worked Example
Experiments are carried out to investigate the kinetics (rate of reaction) of three compounds A, B and C that react together. The results are shown in the table. Comparing experiment 1 to experiment 2, [A] and [C] are constant. However, [B] doubles (×2) and the rate quadruples (×22), so the rate is second order with respect to B. Comparing experiments 2 with 3, [B] and [C] are constant but [A] has decreased by ×0.5 whilst the rate has decreased by ×0.5 . Therefore, the reaction is 1st order with respect to A.

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More in Rate of Reaction
- Experimental Determination of the Rate of Reaction
- The Rate Equation
- The Order of a Reaction
- The Rate Constant k
- Half-Lives and Reaction Rate Graphs
- The Rate Determining Step
- Catalysts
- The Effect of Temperature and Catalysts on the Rate Constant.
All 11 lessons in Rate of Reaction · All AQA A-level Chemistry topics