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1. A first order reaction takes 14.3 minutes to be 50.0% complete. How long will

ID: 921618 • Letter: 1

Question

1. A first order reaction takes 14.3 minutes to be 50.0% complete. How long will the reaction take in minutes to be 90.5% complete? Calculate the rate constant for the reaction?

2. Copper-64 is used in studies of Wilson’s disease (the inability to metabolize copper) and in brain scans for tumors. If t1/2 = 12.8 hours for an administered dose of copper-64, calculate the number of days for copper-64 to drop 0.15% of the initial value administered.

anyone could solve these two physical chemistry problems?

Explanation / Answer

1) Given,

Half life ( t 1/2) = 14.3 min.

We know that for a first order reaction,

K = ln (2) / (Half life),

where K = Rate constant

=> K = 0.693 / 14.3 = 0.0485 min^-1

For a first order reaction,

C(t) = Co exp(-Kt)

where,

Co = Initial conc.

C(t) = conc. at time t

since the reaction needs to be 90.5 % complete, conc. of the reactant remaining after time t is = Co - (0.905 Co) = 0.095 Co

=> 0.095 Co = Co exp (-0.0485 t)

=> t = 48.53 min

2)

K = 0.693 / 12.8 = 0.0541 hour^-1

Let initial conc. = Co

=> C(t) = 0.15 Co / 100 = 0.0015 Co

0.0015 Co = Co exp (- 0.0541 t)

=> t = 120.19 hours = 5 days