Reaction Rates

$aR \to bP, Rate = -\frac{1}{a} \frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{1}{b}\frac{d[P]}{dt}$

Wenting Hu 2H
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am

Reaction Rates

Are reaction rates always positive?

Nina Gautam 1K
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am

Re: Reaction Rates

Yes, they are always positive because they are with respect to time.

Ryan Sydney Beyer 2B
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

Re: Reaction Rates

yes, the rate of the reaction is always positive. This can be confusing as the rate of disappearance can be negative (the rate at which the reactant is leaving). However, if you think about it, the rate of the reaction should never be negative because this is describing how fast the concentration changes with time. Hope this helps

Jessica Benitez 1K
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am

Re: Reaction Rates

Yes we always want positive reaction rates.
For reactants we have: rate = -delta[R]/delta t
For products we have: rate = delta[P]/delta t

Charles Ang 1E
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:00 am

Re: Reaction Rates

Yes, the way I think of it is: a rate is something changing. The opposite of change is not a negative change.