Reconsider the data in Table 6.1 for the reaction between sulfuric acid and diethyl sulfate, and suppose that you believe that the forward reaction rate is actually of the form r = k′c_A. Test this assumption. What conclusion do you draw?

Table 6.1

Concentration of H₂SO₄ versus time for the reaction of sulfuric acid with diethyl sulfate in aqueous solution at 22.9◦C. Data of Hellin and Jungers, Bull. Soc. Chim. France, No. 2, pp. 386–400 (1957).

Time, t (min) 0 41 48 55 75 96 127 162 180 194 Concentration of HSO4, CA(t) (g-mol/L) 5.50 4.91 4.81 4.69 4.38 4.12 3.84 3.59 3.44 3.34