help please this makes no sense

Question

Pure ozone decomposes slowly to oxygen, . Use the data provided in a graphical method and determine the order and rate constant of the reaction. If you like, you can use Excel, or similar software, for your calculations.

Time (h) 0 (h)

[O3] (M) 1.00 10^–5 (M)

Time (h) 2.0 10^3 (h)

[O3] (M) 4.98 10^–6 (M)

Time (h) 7.6 10^3 (h)

[O3] (M) 2.07 10^–6 (M)

Time (h) 1.00 10^4 (h)

[O3] (M) 1.66 10^–6(M

Time (h) 1.23 10^4 (h)

[O3] (M) 1.39 10^–6 (M)

Time (h) 1.43 10^4 (h)

[O3] (M) 1.22 10^–6 (M)

Time (h) 1.70 10^4 (h)

[O3] (M) 1.05 10^–6 (M)

Answer 1

If you plot time vs O3 concentration you find a curve that looks like the top in the figure below.

If you plot time vs LN(O3 concentration) you find a curve that looks like the second one in the figure below.

If you plot time vs the reciprocal (or 1/(O3 concentration)) then you find a curve that looks like the bottom one in the figure.

Since it is the reciprocal that is linear, it is a second order reaction. The rate constant is the slope of the line.