The initial rate of a chemical reaction is the instantaneous rate of reaction at time t=0. This is often the easiest rate to measure experimentally because the concentrations of reactants are known precisely at the start, and the concentrations of products are negligible, simplifying the rate law. Understanding the initial rate helps in determining the order of the reaction with respect to each reactant and in calculating the rate constant.
The general form of the rate law for a reaction like:
aA + bB → Products
is:
Rate = k[A]^m[B]^n
where:
* **Rate** is the reaction rate.
* **k** is the rate constant.
* **[A]** and **[B]** are the molar concentrations of reactants A and B.
* **m** and **n** are the reaction orders with respect to A and B, respectively.
To calculate the initial rate using experimental data, we often need initial concentrations of reactants and the initial rate observed under those conditions. If we have data from multiple experiments, we can use the method of initial rates to determine 'm' and 'n', and then subsequently 'k'.
However, if you have the initial concentrations of all reactants and you know the reaction orders (m and n) and the rate constant (k), you can directly calculate the initial rate.
This calculator will help you determine the initial rate of reaction given the rate constant and the initial concentrations of the reactants, assuming you know the reaction orders.
Initial Rate Calculator
Units depend on reaction order (e.g., M/s, M⁻¹s⁻¹, M⁻²s⁻¹)