Question

Acid hydrolysis of esters such as CH3COOC2H5 in aqueous solution is an example of a pseudo first-order reaction.

(a) True

(b) False

I have been asked this question during an online interview.

The doubt is from Chemical Kinetics topic in portion Chemical Kinetics of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) True

To elaborate: The reaction involved in acid hydrolysis of CH3COOC2H5 in aqueous solution = CH3COOC2H5 + H2O → CH3COOH + C2H5OH. The rate law for the reaction is R=k[CH3COOC2H5][H2O], however, water is present in large excess and is assumed to be constant during the course of the reaction. So the rate law becomes R=k [CH3COOC2H5] and follows first order kinetics.