Acetaldehyde decomposes at 750 K: CH3CHO → CO + CH4. The reaction is first order in acetaldehyde and the half-life of the reaction is found to be 530 seconds. What is the rate constant for the reaction at this temperature?

k = 1.3 x 10⁻³ s⁻¹

Explanation:

For a first order reaction the integrated rate law is

Ln [A]t/[A]₀ = - kt

where [A] are the concentrations of acetaldehyde in this case, t is the time and k is the rate constant.

We are given the half life for the concentration of acetaldehyde to fall to one half its original value, thus

Ln [A]t/[A]₀ = Ln 1/2[A]₀/[A]₀= Ln 1/2 = - kt

- 0.693 = - k(530s) ⇒ k = 1.3 x 10⁻³ s⁻¹

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