Units of Rate Constant

$\frac{d[R]}{dt}=-k[R]; \ln [R]=-kt + \ln [R]_{0}; t_{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{0.693}{k}$

DanielleNario1A
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am

Units of Rate Constant

Is it safe to assume, when finding rate constants, that we should convert all time units to seconds?

ThomasLai1D
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am

Re: Units of Rate Constant

It depends upon the context of the question and what's given. If you can solve it with the time units as minutes, then you don't necessarily have to convert it to seconds. What is important is that all units are the same on both sides of the equation and that they cancel.

RachelCheung1A
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

Re: Units of Rate Constant

Not necessarily. As long as the units can cancel out, you can do seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

Nicole Lee 4E
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

Re: Units of Rate Constant

I would match the units with whatever is given in the problem. This is what the solutions manual seems to do as well.

Samantha Silva 1F
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 3:00 am

Re: Units of Rate Constant

I don't think so, as long as you convert to what is being asked and consistency throughout the problem.

Anand Narayan 1G
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

Re: Units of Rate Constant

I wouldn't always convert the time units to seconds, because often times the units depend on the context of the problem. If the problem operates in hours or minutes, then you should use those units.

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