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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: odicon on October 16, 2009, 01:52:56 AM

Title: What is the difference between reaction rate and rate constant?
Post by: odicon on October 16, 2009, 01:52:56 AM

Is it correct that
- rate constant varies only with temperature
- reaction rate varies with temperature and [reactants]?

What other differences are there between the two?

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: What is the difference between reaction rate and rate constant?
Post by: Schrödinger on October 16, 2009, 09:42:59 AM

The rate of a reaction actually measures the rate at which a reaction proceeds. i.e., it tells you the amount of reactants left or that reacted as a function of time.

The rate constant is something that you need to incorporate in the rate equation in order to find out reaction rate as a function of time.

You were, however, right about the rate and rate constant.