chemistry: something is proportional to 1/time

When we draw graphs in chemistry, we usually plot rate against concentration but if we don’t know the rate, we have to plot concentration against 1/time. This is because something (I don’t know what – probably rate or concentration) is proportional to 1/time.
What is it that’s proportional and how can I prove it’s proportional. I thought it was rate but if rate’s proportioanal to 1/time, wouldn’t that be like saying conc. is 1 since rate=conc/time?

Reply 1

john !!

14

coral_fangs

When we draw graphs in chemistry, we usually plot rate against concentration but if we don’t know the rate, we have to plot concentration against 1/time. This is because something (I don’t know what – probably rate or concentration) is proportional to 1/time.
What is it that’s proportional and how can I prove it’s proportional. I thought it was rate but if rate’s proportioanal to 1/time, wouldn’t that be like saying conc. is 1 since rate=conc/time?

Can you explain what you're talking about please? Like what experiment, what are you altering and what are you recording. (also perhaps what level you're doing this at). Thanks.

Reply 2

hihihihi

If you have a reaction, the less time it takes to finish the quicker the reaction.

Therefore the reaction rate is inversely proportional to the time taken.

ie reaction rate= constant/time

so on a graph 1/time is basically the reaction rate