Question

Tetrafluoroethylene, _C2F₄, can be converted to octafluorocyclobutane which can be used as a refrigerant or an aerosol propellant. A plot of 1/[C2F4] vs. time gives a straight line with a slope of 0.0448 L mol–1s–1. What is the rate law for this reaction?

A) Rate = k[C₂F₄]²
B) Rate = k[C₂F₄]³
C) Rate = k[C₂F₄]
D) Rate = k

Answer 1

Tetrafluoroethylene follows a second-order reaction as the plot of 1/[C2F4] vs. time is linear. The rate law for this reaction is Rate = k[C2F4]².

Step-by-step explanation:

The observed kinetics of the conversion of tetrafluoroethylene (C2F4) to octafluorocyclobutane reflects a reaction whose rate is dependent on the concentration of tetrafluoroethylene.

Since the plot of 1/[C2F4] versus time gives a straight line, this is indicative of a second-order reaction. The straight-line plot suggests that the rate of disappearance of C2F4 is proportional to the square of its concentration.

Thus, the rate law for this reaction is given by Rate = k[C2F4]², which corresponds to option A).

The rate law for the reaction can be determined by examining the relationship between the rate of the reaction and the concentration of the reactant. In this case, the rate law can be determined using the slope of the plot of 1/[C2F4] vs. time.

Since the slope of the plot is 0.0448 L mol–1s–1, it indicates that the rate of the reaction is directly proportional to the concentration of C2F4. Therefore, the rate law for this reaction is Rate = k[C2F4], where k is the rate constant.