alleryStart learning →What units does the rate constant of a first order reaction carry?
AThe rate constant carries units of mol/L/s
BThe rate constant carries units of 1/s
CThe rate constant carries units of L/mol/s
DThe rate constant carries units of L^2/mol^2/s
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The rate constant carries units of 1/s
1. The units of k must make k times the concentration terms come out as mol/L/s.
2. For a first order law the concentration term already carries mol/L.
3. So k needs units of 1/s, that is per second.
4. Units of mol/L/s belong to a zero order constant, where there is no concentration term at all.
5. Units of L/mol/s belong to a second order constant.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Kinetics", section 12.3 Rate Laws_
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