Final answer:
The addition of KOH during the kinetic runs in this experiment has no effect on the reaction rates due to its reaction with the strong acid present, neutralizing its basicity and nucleophilic character.
Step-by-step explanation:
The addition of KOH during the kinetic runs in this experiment has virtually no effect on the reaction rates despite the hydroxide ion being a stronger nucleophile than water or ethanol. This is because KOH is a strong base that ionizes completely in water, producing a high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution. However, in the presence of a strong acid, the hydroxide ion reacts with the acid to form water, effectively neutralizing its basicity and diminishing its nucleophilic character. In this case, the hydroxide ion reacts with the strong acid present in the reaction, and its nucleophilic properties are not observed.