Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Physical: Chemical Kinetics

Question:

Half life of the zero order reaction is:

Options:

Directly proportional to the square root of the initial concentration of the reactant

Independent of initial concentration of the reactant

Inversely proportional to initial concentration of the reactant

Directly proportional to initial concentration of the reactant

Correct Answer:

Directly proportional to initial concentration of the reactant

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (4) → Directly proportional to initial concentration of the reactant

The half-life of a reaction is the time in which the concentration of a reactant is reduced to one half of its initial concentration. 

For a zero-order reaction, rate constant is given by equation

$ k=\frac{[\text{R}]_0-[\text{R}]}{t} $

At

$ t=t_{\frac12} $

, and

$ [\text{R}]=\frac12[\text{R}]_0 $ 

The rate constant at half life becomes

$ k=\frac{[\text{R}]_0-1/2[\text{R}]_0}{t_{1/2}} $

$ t_{1/2}=\frac{[\text{R}]_0}{2k} $ 

It is clear that half life for a zero-order reaction is directly proportional to the initial concentration of the reactants and inversely proportional to the rate constant.