Q. Consider the following statements
The rate law for the acid catalysed hydrolysis of an ester being given as
Rate= k [ester]= k' [ ester]. If the acid concentration is doubled at constant ester concentration
1. The second order rate constant, k is doubled.
2. The pesudo first order rate constant, k is doubled.
3. The rate of the reaction is doubled.
Which of the above statements are correct?

 6113  194 ManipalManipal 2008Chemical Kinetics Report Error

Solution:

Pseudo first order rate constant is doubled as well as rate of reaction is doubled. It may be noted that in presence of acid, hydrolysis of ethyl acetate is a pseudo-unimolecular reaction but the actual value of k depends upon the concentration of ions, otherwise rate constant of a reaction is constant at constant temperature.