[ntrp35]

Hey everyone,

I encountered this problem studying for my upcoming Chem test:

"The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was studied, and the following data were obtained at a particular temperature:
[Data table showing concentration of H2O2 vs. time]
Determine the rate law, the integrated rate law, and the value of the rate constant."

I did manage to solve for the correct answers, but I found that my way of determining the reaction order was very cumbersome.

I knew that if the reaction was first-order, the line of ln[H2O2] vs. time would be a straight line. Plotting a graph, I felt, would be out of the question, so I compared the slopes of two lines, one connecting two points (time1, ln[H2O2]1) and (time2, ln[H2O2]2), and the other connecting some other two points (time4, ln[H2O2]4) and (time4, ln[H2O2]4), for instance. If the two slopes were equal, I reasoned, the line ln[H2O2] vs. time would have to be straight.

I feel there might be an easier way to do this. Can someone show me the "proper" way to determine the order of a reaction knowing only the concentration of the reactant over time?