Example of Second order Reaction

Hydrolysis of an Ester by NaOH. This is typical second order reaction.

The reaction is carried in a vessel at a constant temperature by taking. equimolar amounts of ethyl acetate and NaOH. Measured volumes of the reaction mixture (say, 25 ml) are withdrawn at various times and titrated against a standard acid. The volume of the acid used is a measure of the concentration of NaOH or ester. Thus the volume of the acid used when t= 0, gives the initial concentration (a) of the reactants. The volume of acid consumed at any other time t gives (a– x). The value of x can be calculated. The rate constant k can be determined by substituting values in the second order integrated rate equation