In: Chemistry
When using the mathematical ratio method for determining the order of each reactant in an experiment, how do you determine which data pounts to use in the ratio?
In mathematical method it is essential to determining the slope of the plot that "linearizes the data". In this method the concentration versus time data are ploted . Then the inverse and natural log of the concentration is calculated. As the slope for linear plot is constant, thus the slope calculated from two pairs of adjacent points should be equal . We take three consecutive points from the concentration versus time data. Calculate Delta y\ Delta x for the first and second points. Y is the concentration, and X is the time . The same is done for the second and third point. If the numbers are same then it is zero order reaction and If not, then we calculate the slope for the inverse concentration versus time data or natural log of the concentration versus time data.