Definition
noun
An order of chemical reaction in which the rate of the reaction depends on the concentration of only one reactant, and is proportional to the amount of the reactant.
Supplement
It may be represented by the equation, rate = kA, where k is the reaction rate constant, and A is the concentration of the reactant.
An example of a reaction in a first-order is the decomposition of N2o5:
N2o5 → 2NO2 + ½ O2
because the rate of reaction depends on the concentration of N2o5 raised to the first power.
Compare: second-order kinetics
See also: chemical kinetics, reactant, reaction rate constant, chemical reaction.
Dictionary > First-order kinetics
You will also like...

New Zealand’s Unique Flora
If New Zealand has lots of unique animals, it's also got a whole lot of unique plants. Find out more about some of them,..

Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems
There are many environmental factors that arise due to the usage of water in one way or another and for every action tha..

Meiosis – The Genetics of Reproduction
Meiosis is a form of cell division that creates gametes. It is comprised of two divisions that in the end, the resulting..

Gene Action – Operon Hypothesis
Learn how the way genes control and determine every aspect of the body. This lesson uses lac operon as an example. ..
..

Freshwater Ecology
Freshwater ecology focuses on the relations of aquatic organisms to their freshwater habitats. There are two forms of co..

The Evolutionary Development of Multicellular Organisms
Multicellular organisms evolved. The first ones were likely in the form of sponges. Multicellularity led to the evolutio..