Final answer:
Without specific concentration and time data, the rate constant of the first-order reaction A → B cannot be calculated. For first-order reactions, the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of reactant A, and the graph of concentration versus time is curved, allowing determination of the reaction rate by the slope of the tangent to this curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate constant of a chemical reaction is determined by analyzing the kinetics of the reaction, specifically focusing on how the concentration of reactants and products changes over time. In the case of a first-order reaction such as A → B, the rate of the reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of reactant A. If we were provided with the concentration data of A at different time intervals, we could calculate the rate constant (k) using the formula for a first-order reaction rate law, which is rate = k[A]. However, without specific concentration and time data, it is not possible to calculate the exact value of the rate constant.
Typically, in a first-order reaction, the graph of concentration versus time is curved, and one can calculate the reaction rate by determining the slope of a tangent to the concentration-time curve. In more complex scenarios, like a second-order reaction 2A → products, the reaction rate is proportional to the square of the concentration of reactant A or to the product of the concentrations of two different reactants (A + B → products).