Chemical Kinetics

            Trichloroethanoic acid can be used to precipitate proteins from plasma. It is readily decarboxylated in aqueous solution according to the following reaction: CCl3COOH (aq) → CHCl3 (aq) + CO2 (g) The reaction kinetics were monitored by measuring the volume V of CO2 released as a function of time: A plot of ln(V) versus time gave a straight line graph with a negative slope of -2.8 x 10-4 s-1 (i) What is the rate law for this reaction. Give a reason for your answer. (ii) Determine the rate constant for this reaction. (iii) Determine the half-life of the reaction. (iv) If the initial concentration of CCl3COOH is 0.1M, calculate the time taken for this initial concentration of CCl3COOH to fall by 25 %.