What is the rate of decomposition of N_{2}O_{5} at 55°C when its concentration is 0.030 M? (See Worked Example 12.3.)
STRATEGY
Calculate the rate by substituting the rate constant found in Worked Example 12.3 \left( 1.7 \times 10^{-3}s^{-1} \right) and the given concentration (0.030 M) into the rate law
✓BALLPARK CHECK Because the reaction is first order in N_{2}O_{5} and the con-centration of N_{2}O_{5} is 3/2 times that in experiment 1 of Worked Example 12.3, the decomposition rate will increase by a factor of 3/2 from 3.4 \times 10^{-5} M/s \text{to about} 5 \times 10^{-5} M/s , which agrees with the detailed solution.