How do you determine the rate of reaction?

an equation that relates the reaction rate to the concentration of the reactants.

Reaction Rates follow the formula:

T=K[a]A[b]B[c]C[d]D............

where

T is the timed period under investigation.

K is a constant

a,b,c,d.... are the reactants and products

[] denotes the concentration of a reactant or a product

A,B,C,D are the unknown exponential components that will determine the order of the reaction.

T is determined by some observable change in the reaction medium. For example in the Iodine clock reaction it is where the solution turns purple.

K is determined by starting all concentrations at 1. Since 1 to any power is still one T=K

To determine the value of A,B,C,D run two timed experiments. The first with all concentrations at one. The second with one and only one of the other components at a concentration of two.

Divide the second run by the first. T2/T1 will give you a ratio.

K will cancel out.

All concentrations of one will still give one and are therefore of no impact.

What you are left with then is:

Ratio =[2]x

If the Ration is 1 then x=0

" " " " " " " 2 then x=1

" " " " " " " 4 then x=2

" " " " " " " 8 then x=3

You will have to make a run altering just one of each component each time to get all exponents.

You will find that products give negative exponents.