Rate Equations for First- and Second-Order Reactions

3 Rate Equations for First- and Second-Order Reactions 

The rates of liquid-phase reactions can generally be obtained by measuring the time-dependent concentrations of reactants and/or products in a constant-volume batch reactor. From experimental data, the reaction kinetics can be analyzed either by the integration method or by the differential method  

Each of these methods has both merits and demerits. For example, the integration method can easily be used to test several well-known specific mechanisms. In more complicated cases the differential method may be useful, but this requires more data points. Analysis by the integration method can generally be summarized as follows. 

The rate equation for a reactant A is usually given as a function of the concentrations of reactants. Thus, 

Irreversible First-Order Reaction If a reactant A is converted to a product P by an irreversible unimolecular elementary reaction 

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