Department of Chemistry

CSM, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology

Iligan City, Philippines

Name: Gabrielle Ysaye T. Dominisac Date:

01/06/09
Section: OP
Rating:_______

Determination of a Rate Law

I. Introduction
The rate of the hypothetical reaction, A2 + 2B2 2AB, can be measured by observing
the rate of disappearance of either A2 or B2, or the rate of appearance of AB, depending upon
which species is the easiest to detect and monitor in the system.

The reaction rate is nearly always proportional to the reactants’ concentration, raised to
some power, as rate = k[A2]m[ B2]n where [A2] and [ B2] are molar concentrations of reactants.
This expression is called the rate law for the reaction. The value of k, the specific rate constant,
varies with temperature but is independent of the concentrations of reactants.

In this experiment, the students will study the kinetics of a chemical reaction specifically
the reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and potassium iodide (KI) in aqueous solution.
From his observations, he is expected to determine the rate law for the reaction using graphical
techniques.

The superscripts m and n designate the order of the reaction with respect to the
concentration of each reactant and are always determined experimentally. For example, if
doubling [A2] while holding [ B2] constant will tend to increase the reaction rate by a factor of
four, then m=2. In practice, the [ B 2] is held nearly constant by adding it in large excess so that
its concentration changes by only a small amount during the reaction.

II. Methodology
First and foremost, five test solutions were prepared in a clean 250-mL beaker according
to the following table:
 Solution A
Test Na2S2O3
Solution distilled H2O, Buffer, KI (0.30 M), Starch sol’n, (0.020M),
mL mL mL mL mL
1 30.70 6.30 2.50 0.50 2.50
2 28.20 6.30 5.00 0.50 2.50
3 25.70 6.30 7.50 0.50 2.50
4 20.70 6.30 7.50 0.50 2.50
5 15.70 6.30 7.50 0.50 2.50

KI and Na2S2O3 solutions were measured through the use of a pipette. All these solutions were
stirred and placed in a water-bath filled with water.

Second, 7.50 mL 0.10 M H 2O2 was measured with the use of a clean, 100-mL beaker and
was placed in a water bath for about two minutes to allow equilibrium to be established. Third,
the 250-mL beaker containing solution A was placed on top of a white sheet of paper for the easy
detection of the color change. Fourth, H2O2 was immediately added to solution A and was
rapidly timed until the color changed into deep-blue. The time of reaction was then recorded to
the nearest second. Finally, steps two to four were repeated using 7.50, 7.50, 12.50 and 17.50 mL
of 0.1 M H2O2 to test solutions 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

III. Results and Discussion

A. Data Calculations

i.) mol S2O32- reacted

mol
(
0.00250 L 0.020
L )
= 5.0 x 10-5 mol S2O3

ii.) mol I2 produced

1 mol I 2
5.0 x 10-5 mol S2O3 ( )
2 mol S 2 O 3
= 2.5 x 10-5 mol I2

iii.) ∆mol I2/t (mol/sec)

2.5 x 10−5
1) = 4.0 x 10-7mol/sec
63
2.5 x 10−5
2) = 7.8 x 10-7mol/sec
32
 2.5 x 10−5
3) = 1.3 x 10-6mol/sec
19
2.5 x 10−5
4) = 1.9 x 10-6mol/sec
13
2.5 x 10−5
5) = 2.5 x 10-6mol/sec
10

iv.) log (∆mol I2/t)

log 4.0 x 10-7 = -6.4; log7.8 x 10-7 = -6.1; log1.3 x 10-6 = -5.9; log1.9 x 10-6 = -5.7; log2.5 x 10-6 = -5.6

v.) [I-], (mol/L)

mol
0.30 M ( 2.50 mL) 0.30 ( 0.00250 L )
-
[I ] = = L = 1.5 x 10-2M
50 mL
0.0050 L

mol
0.30 M (5.0 mL) 0.30 ( 0.0050 L )
-
[I ] = = L = 3.0 x 10-2M
50 mL
0.0050 L

mol
0.30 M ( 2.50 mL) 0.30 ( 0.00750 L )
-
[I ] = = L = 4.5 x 10-2M
50 mL
0.0050 L

vi.) Log [I-]

log1.5 x 10-2 = -1.8 log3.0 x 10-2 = -1.5 log4.5 x 10-2 = -1.3

vii.) [H2O2], (mol/L)

mol
0.25 M (7.50 mL) 0.25 ( 0.00750 L )
[H2O2] = = L = 3.8 x 10-2 M
50 mL
0.0050 L

mol
0.25 M (12.50 mL) 0.25 ( 0.01250 L )
[H2O2] = = L = 6.3 x 10-2 M
50 mL
0.0050 L
 mol
0.25 M (7.50 mL) 0.25 ( 0.01750 L )
[H2O2] = = L = 8.8 x 10-2 M
50 mL
0.0050 L

viii.) log [H2O2]

log3.8 x 10-2 = -1.4 log6.3 x 10-2= -1.2 log8.8 x 10-2 = -1.1

ix.) m

rise
slope of the line (refer to the graph – red line) = =1
run

x.) n

rise
slope of the line(refer to the graph – blue line) = =¿1
run

rate
xi.) k’ k’1 =
¿¿

rate 4.0 x 10−7 mol/ sec

k’1 = = = 7.0 x 10-4
¿¿ [ 1.5 x 10−2 ] [3.8 x 10−2 ]

rate 7.8 x 10−7 mol /sec

k’2 = = = 6.8 x 10-4
¿¿ [ 3.0 x 10−2 ] [ 3.8 x 10−2 ]

rate 1.3 x 10−6 mol/ sec -4

k’3 = = −2 = 7.6 x 10
¿¿ [ 4.5 x 10 ][ 3.8 x 10 ]
−2

−6
rate 1.9 x 10 mol/ sec
k’4 = = = 6.7 x 10-4
¿¿ [ 4.5 x 10−2 ][ 6.3 x 10−2 ]
2.5 x 10−6 mol/ sec
k’5 = rate = = 6.3 x 10-4
¿¿ [ 4.5 x 10−2 ][ 8.8 x 10−2 ]
xii.) Average k’

7.0 x 10−4 + 6.8 x 10−4 + 7.6 x 10−4 + 6.7 x 10−4 +6.3 x 10−4
=¿ 6.9 x 10-4
5

B. Tabulation and Graphical Presentation of Data

 Test Solutions 1 2 3 4 5
Time elapsed for
color change, ∆ t 63 32 19 13 10
(seconds)
mol S2O32- reacted 5.0 x 10-5 5.0 x 10-5 5.0 x 10-5 5.0 x 10-5 5.0 x 10-5
mol I2 produced 2.5 x 10-5 2.5 x 10-5 2.5 x 10-5 2.5 x 10-5 2.5 x 10-5
∆ mol I2/t
4.0 x 10-7 7.8 x 10-7 1.3 x 10-6 1.9 x 10-6 2.5 x 10-6
(mol/sec)
log (∆ mol I2/t) -6.4 -6.1 -5.9 -5.7 -5.6

[I-], (mol/L) 1.5 x 10-2 3.0 x 10-2 4.5 x 10-2 4.5 x 10-2 4.5 x 10-2
log [I-] -1.8 -1.5 -1.3 -1.3 -1.3
[H2O2], (mol/L) 3.8 x 10-2 3.8 x 10-2 3.8 x 10-2 6.3 x 10-2 8.8 x 10-2
log [H2O2] -1.4 -1.4 -1.4 -1.2 -1.1
m 1
n 1
k’ 7.0 x 10 -4
6.8 x 10 -4
7.6 x 10-4 6.7 x 10-4 6.3 x 10-4
Average k’ 6.9 x 10-4

-1.8 -1.5 -1.4 -1.3 -1.2 -1.1

-5.1

-5.6

-5.7

-5.9

-6.1
 -6.4

red line – log [I-] versus log (∆ mol I2/t); blue line - log [H2O2] versus log (∆ mol I2/t)

Results showed that the slopes of the line are both one. This implies that I- is a first order
reaction, H2O2 is also a first order reaction, and the overall reaction order is second order.

IV. Conclusion
Therefore, we conclude that the rate law for the reaction between hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2) and potassium iodide (KI) in aqueous solution can be expressed as: Rate law = k[I-][H2O2]

which is evident in the graph.

V. Reference
 Chemistry: The Central Science by Brown, LeMay and Bursten (Eith Edition)
 Chemistry by Mortimer (Sixth Edition)