The hydrolysis of the sugar sucrose to the sugars glucose and fructose, C12H22011 + H20 - C6H12O6 + C H206
follows a first-order rate law for the disappearance of sucrose: rate = K[C12H22011] (The products of the reaction, glucose and
fructose, have the same molecular formulas but differ in the arrangement of the atoms in their molecules.)
In neutral solution, k = 2.1 x 10-11 s-1 at 27 °C

(b) When a solution of sucrose with an initial concentration of 0.150 M reaches equilibrium, the concentration of sucrose is 1.65
x 10-7 M. How long will it take the solution to reach equilibrium at 27 °C in the absence of a catalyst? Because the
concentration of sucrose at equilibrium is so low, assume that the reaction is irreversible.
(c) Why does assuming that the reaction is irreversible simplify the calculation in part (b)?