Question

The decomposition of sulfuryl chloride, SO2Cl2, to sulfur dioxide and chlorine gases is a first order reaction. IT is found taht it takes 13.7 hours to decompose a 0.250 M SO2Cl2 solution to 0.117 M

Answer 1

Completed Question:

The decomposition of sulfuryl chloride, SO2Cl2, to sulfur dioxide and chlorine gases is a first order reaction. IT is found taht it takes 13.7 hours to decompose a 0.250 M SO2Cl2 solution to 0.117 M. What is the rate constant for the decomposition?

Answer:

0.04 h⁻¹

Explanation:

If the decomposition occurs at a first-order reaction, it means that the rate of the reaction can be expressed as:

rate = k*[SO2Cl2]

Where k is the rate constant, and [SO2Cl2] is the initial concentration of SO2Cl2. The rate is also the variation of the concentration by the time, so it is:

rate = (0.250 - 0.117)/13.7

rate = 0.0098 M/h

Thus, the concnetration decays 0.0098 M for each hour. The rate constant is then:

0.0098 = k*0.250

k = 0.04 h⁻¹