Rate constant may be defined as the rate of the reaction when the concentration of each reactant is taken as unity. That is why the rate constant is also known as specific reaction rate.
Characteristics of rate constant:
Some important characteristics of the rate constant are as follows:
1. Rate constant is a measure of the rate of reaction. Greater is the value of the rate constant, faster is the reaction.
2. Each reaction has a definite value of the rate constant at a particular temperature.
3. The value of the rate constant for the same reaction changes with temperature.
4. The value of the rate constant of a reaction does not depend upon the concentrations of the reactants.
5. The units of the rate constant depend upon the order of reaction.
