Chapter 18 – Reaction Rates

Reaction Rate – rate of disappearance of a

reactant or appearance of a product.

Time A + B  AB
0s 1M 2M 0
30 s 0.5M 1.5M 0.5M
60 s 0 1M 1M

∆[AB] - ∆[A]
Rate = or
∆time ∆time

∆ means “change in”

[ ] means concentration in Molarity

Rate = M/s
Rate Law - An expression relating the rate of a
reaction to the concentration of the reactants.

A + B  AB
Exponents are called
“orders” – these
must be determined
experimentally.
Rate = k [A]x [B]y (0, 1, 2, or 3)

specific M of reactants
rate constant