rate constants

[Fdonovan 3D]

Are rate constants always positive? And if so why is this the case?

[Jonathan Gong 2H]

Rate constants, k, should be positive since they relate given concentrations with the rate of a reaction, which will always be positive. But, if you are considering graphs, a plot of a 1st or 0 order reaction will have a slope of -k, while a plot of a 2nd order reaction will have a slope of +k.

[lilymayek_1E]

the rate constant (which is k) should always be positive; you can think of a rate as always positive because k (a proportion between concentrations) is positive, and rate can be presented as K[R]^n, which must be positive as negative concentration or proportions cannot exist.
on a graph of a first-order reaction, the slope is negative, but we have to add a negative sign to the overall rate to accommodate for this downward slope (the rate itself isn't negative)

[Abigail_Hagen2G]

Rate constants are always positive because concentrations are always positive.

[205405339]

rate constants are always positive and don't have units

[Joanne Lee 1J]

Yes, rate constants are always positive because they represent concentration and concentration has to always be positive.

[Louise Lin 2B]

yes rate constants are always positive because even when reactions slow down or reverse, the rate from product to reactant is still moving forward, making the rate constant positive.

[aishwarya_atmakuri]

Yes, rate constants are always positive because they represent concentration which is based on mass (always positive).

[rabiasumar2E]

Yes! Rate constants are always positive because concentrations cannot be negative values.

[Jasmine W 1K]

Rate constants are always positive because concentrations cannot be negative.

[Leila_4G]

In what case would we ever get a negative rate constant?

[Leila_4G]

Also, will we ever get a graph with a curve of lnA/t even if we have the correct order reaction? I thought I saw an example like that in the book but I was confused.

[kristi le 2F]

Rate constants will be positive, but you can still get a graph with a negative slope, such as in 1st order reactions where the slope is -k.

[Nare Nazaryan 1F]

Since rate constants depend on concentration (which is positive), they are always positive.

[Maika Ngoie 1B]

Because concentration can never be a negative value, it is always positive.

[EMurphy_2L]

In what case would we ever get a negative rate constant?

for 0 or 1 order reactions in which the slope is negative!

[Samuel Tzeng 1B]

the rate constant is always positive

[Celine 1F]

Rate constants should always be positive

[Diana Andrade_4F]

Yes, they're always positive!

[Anthony Hatashita 4H]

Rate constants are always positive because they are based off time and concentrations which are always positive.