The rate constants for the decomposition of acetaldehyde CH3CHO(g) -?CH4(g) + CO(g) were measured at five different temperatures. The data are shown in the table. Plot ln k versus 1/T and determine the activation energy (in kJ/mol) for the reaction. Note that the reaction is "3/2" order in CH3CHO so k has the units of 1/M1/2 s. Strategy: consider the Arrhenius equation written as a linear equation.
Given the following data for k (1/M1/2 s) : 0.011, 0.035, 0.105, 0.343, 0.789.
The corresponding values for T (K) are: 700, 730, 760, 790, 810.