Final answer:
The rate law for the reaction converting tetrafluoroethylene to octafluorocyclobutane follows second-order kinetics with the rate expression rate = 0.0448 [C₂F₄]².
Step-by-step explanation:
Rate Law for the Reaction
The conversion of tetrafluoroethylene (C₂F₄) to octafluorocyclobutane involves a reaction for which the kinetics can be studied by plotting 1/[C₂F₄] vs. time. A straight line obtained from this plot indicates that the reaction follows second-order kinetics.
To find the rate law, consider the rate expression for a general second-order reaction A → products: rate = k[A]². Given the slope of the line as 0.0448 L mol⁻¹s⁻¹, which represents the rate constant k, the rate law for this reaction can be written as rate = 0.0448 [C₂F₄]².