When formic acid is heated, it decomposes to hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a first-order decay:

HCOOH(g) →CO2(g) + H2 (g)

The rate of reaction is monitored by measuring the total pressure in the reaction container.

Time (s) . . . P (torr)
0 . . . . . . . . . 220
50 . . . . . . . . 324
100 . . . . . . . 379
150 . . . . . . . 408
200 . . . . . . . 423
250 . . . . . . . 431
300 . . . . . . . 435

At the start of the reaction (time = 0), only formic acid is present. What is the formic acid pressure (in torr) when the total pressure is 243? What is the rate constant
What is the rate constant (in s-1)
What is the half-life (in s)

Question

When formic acid is heated, it decomposes to hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a first-order decay:

HCOOH(g) →CO2(g) + H2 (g)

The rate of reaction is monitored by measuring the total pressure in the reaction container.

Time (s) . . . P (torr) 
0 . . . . . . . . . 220 
50 . . . . . . . . 324 
100 . . . . . . . 379 
150 . . . . . . . 408 
200 . . . . . . . 423 
250 . . . . . . . 431 
300 . . . . . . . 435

At the start of the reaction (time = 0), only formic acid is present. What is the formic acid pressure (in torr) when the total pressure is 243? What is the rate constant 
What is the rate constant (in s-1)
What is the half-life (in s)

anonymous · Answer

I just need the rate constant and half-life

anonymous · Answer

The total is going to go from 220 to 440 torr as each mole of formic acid gas becomes two moles of gas, one each of CO2 and H2. Getting half-way there will be at 330 torr, close to 50 s, but plotting it would tell you more exactly.

abb0t · Answer

Yes. Go on excel, and plot this information. It's very simple to recognize.