Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Integrated rate laws are mathematical expressions that describe the concentration of a reactant as a function of time. They provide the relationship between the concentrations of reactants or products and the time in a chemical reaction.
This is an equation that describes the rate of a reaction in terms of the concentration of its reactants. It's like knowing how fast you're driving at any given moment.
Half-Life (t1/2): This is the time required for half of a sample to undergo some process, often decay or transformation. It's similar to estimating when half of your journey will be completed while traveling.
This refers to how the rate of reaction responds to changes in concentration. It's like understanding if driving faster (increasing speed) will get you to your destination quicker (decrease travel time).