75% of a first order reaction was completed in 16 minutes. When was it half completed?
(Given: $\log(0.75) = -0.125, \log(0.25) = -0.602$)
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → 8 min
First-Order Rate Law (Integrated): $k=\frac{2.303}{t}\log\left(\frac{[A]_0}{[A]}\right)$
Where: $k$ = rate constant, $t$ = time, $[A]_0$ = initial concentration, $[A]$ = concentration at time $t$
Given: 75% completed in 16 minutes.
If $[A]_0=100$, then $[A]=100-75=25$
$k=\frac{2.303}{16}\log\left(\frac{100}{25}\right)=\frac{2.303}{16}\log(4) $
Since $\log(4)=2\log(2)\approx2\times0.301=0.602 $
$ k=\frac{2.303\times0.602}{16} $
For Half-Life $(t_{1/2})$:
Half-life is the time when the reaction is 50% completed.
So, if $[A]_0=100$, then $[A]=50 $
$ k=\frac{2.303}{t_{1/2}}\log\left(\frac{100}{50}\right)=\frac{2.303}{t_{1/2}}\log(2) $
$ t_{1/2}=\frac{2.303\log(2)}{k}=\frac{0.693}{k}\quad(\text{since }2.303\times\log(2)\approx0.693) $
Relate 75% Completion to Half-Life:
For a first-order reaction:
After one half-life, 50% remains. After two half-lives, 25% remains.
If 25% remains, then 75% is completed.
So, 16 minutes represents two half-lives: $2\times t_{1/2}=16 $
$ t_{1/2}=\frac{16}{2}=8\,\text{minutes.} $