Final answer:
The negative gradient of the Scatchard plot is related to the rate constant in the first-order integrated rate law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Scatchard plot is a graphical representation used to analyze the binding of ligands to a receptor. It is commonly used in biochemistry and molecular biology. In the plot, the x-axis represents the ratio of bound ligand to free ligand concentration, while the y-axis represents the ratio of bound ligand to the number of binding sites on the receptor.
The negative gradient of the Scatchard plot is related to the rate constant in the first-order integrated rate law. In the linear format of this law, the rate constant is given by the negative of the plot's slope. A negative gradient indicates a negative slope on the plot, which corresponds to a positive rate constant. This means that as the concentration of bound ligand increases, the rate of binding also increases.