Methyl acetate, CH3COOCH3, reacts in basic solution to give acetate ion, CH3COO, and methanol, CH3OH.
CH3COOCH3(aq) + OH(aq) → CH3COO(aq) + CH3OH(aq)
The overall order of the reaction was determined by starting with methyl acetate and hydroxide ion at the same concentrations, so [CH3COOCH3] = [OH] = x. Then
Rate = k[CH3COOCH3]m[OH]n = kxm+n
Determine the overall order and the value of the rate constant by plotting the following data assuming first- and then second-order kinetics.
Time (min) [CH3COOCH3] (mol/L)
0.00.............. 0.01000
3.00.............. 0.00740
4.00.............. 0.00683
5.00.............. 0.00634
10.00............ 0.00463
20.00............ 0.00304
30.00............ 0.00224