For a competitive parallel first-order mechanism where a single reactant reacts via (with constant ) — Chemical Kinetics Chemistry Question
Question
For a competitive parallel first-order mechanism where a single reactant reacts via $A \rightarrow B$ (with constant $k_1$) and $A \rightarrow C$ (with constant $k_2$), which of the following kinetic differential equations and derived relationships are mathematically robust and correct?
💡 Solution & Explanation
Statement A correctly maps the exponential decay driven by the sum of paths. Statement B represents the correct master differential equation reflecting simultaneous dual consumption. Statement C correctly defines the fraction yield as the ratio of its specific rate constant to the total rate constant. Statement D is false because the actual half-life of A dictates a decay across all paths, meaning $t_{1/2} = 0.693 / (k_1+k_2)$.