In chemical kinetics, the rate law describes the relation between the reaction

rate and the concentration of the reactants in a chemical reaction. In this

assignment, we look at the rate law for the reaction 2A + 2B -> C + D. For a
reaction between two reactants with concentrations of [A] and [B], the rate law is
given by the following equation: Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n. K represents the rate
constant while the reaction orders of A and B are given by m and n, which are
determined experimentally. These reaction orders are determined by observing the
change in the instantaneous initial rate as we vary the concentrations of A and B
strategically. For example, we can determine the reaction order of A by seeing how
the instantaneous initial rate changes as we change the concentration of A while
keeping the concentration of B constant. After finding the reaction orders, we can
calculate the rate constant using the experimental data.
In this assignment, we are given the data for four different trials in which we
are given the concentrations of A, B, and the instantaneous initial rate. Looking at
the data from trials one and two, we can observe that the instantaneous initial rate
doubles as the concentration of B is doubled while that of A is kept constant. Since
the concentration of B is directly proportional to the instantaneous initial rate, we
can determine that the reaction order of B is one and the plot ln[B] vs. time would
yield a straight line. Next, we look at trials one and three, in which the
concentration of B is kept constant. As the concentration of A is doubled, the
instantaneous initial rate quadruples. Therefore, we can determine that the reaction
order of A is two and the plot 1/[A] vs. time would yield a straight line. Adding up
the reaction orders of A and B, we calculate the overall reaction order to be three.
Based on the rate law, we determine the reaction considered not to be an
elementary reaction since the reaction order of B does not equal to its coefficient in
the balanced reaction shown above.
Finding the reaction orders of A and B, we can now write the new equation,
rate = k[A]^2[B], which can rewritten as k = rate/([A]^2[B]). Plugging in the values
of instantaneous initial rate and concentrations of A and B, we calculate the rate
constant k. Solving for k in each trial, we find k1, k2, k3, and k4 to equal 0.103 M^2 s^-1. Since the rate constant is the same for each trial, the average rate constant
is also 0.103 M^-2 s^-1.
In summary, we determined the rate law for the reaction 2A + 2B -> C + D
by first finding the reaction orders of A and B. Using the instantaneous initial rates
and concentrations given in the data provided, we found the rate constant k for
each trial, which averaged to equal 0.103 M^-2 s^-1. Putting everything together,
we can write the final rate law equation, Rate = (0.103 M^-2 s^-1)[A]^2[B].