Question

he hydrolysis (saponification) of ethyl acetate occurs according to the stoichiometric relation CH3COOC2H5 + OH   CH3COO  + C2H5OH. The reaction can be followed by monitoring the disappearance of OH  . The following experimental results were obtained at 25o C.

[OH-]0 (M) [CH3COOC2C5]0 (M) t1/2 (s)

0.0050 0.0050 2000

0.0100 0.0100 1000

a) What is the overall kinetic order of the reaction?

b) Calculate a value for the rate constant, including appropriate units.
c) How long would it take for the concentration of OH  to reach 0.0025 M for each

experiment?
d) Based on your answer to part (a), what are possible rate laws for this reaction?
e) Carefully describe a single experiment that would enable you to decide which of the possibilities of part (d) is most nearly correct.

Answer 1