Concept explainers
In an elementary chemical reaction, single molecules of two reactants A and B form a molecule of the product C: A + B → C. The law of mass action states that the rate of reaction is proportional to the product of the concentrations of A and B:
(See Example 3.7.4.) Thus, if the initial concentrations are [A] = a moles/L and [B] = b moles/L and we write x = [C], then we have
(a) Assuming that a ≠ b, find x as a function of t. Use the fact that the initial concentration of C is 0.
(b) Find x(t) assuming that a = b. How does this expression for x(t) simplify if it is known that
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Calculus: Early Transcendentals
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