Engineering English
Rate Constant
Chemical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A proportionality factor in the rate law that relates the reaction rate to the concentration of reactants. It depends on temperature and is specific to each reaction.
Example in context
“The rate constant for this second-order reaction was determined to be 0.045 L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 350 K.”
“Bu ikinci derece reaksiyon için hız sabiti 350 K'de 0.045 L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ olarak belirlendi.”
Where engineers use it
The rate constant appears in every kinetic model. An engineer uses it to calculate reaction rates at different temperatures via the Arrhenius equation. It is crucial for sizing reactors.
Synonyms: reaction rate constant, specific rate constant
Practice: can you use “Rate Constant” at work?
You are troubleshooting a pilot plant reactor where conversion is lower than expected. You suspect the catalyst has deactivated. How would the measured rate constant help verify this?
Show a model answer
“The rate constant is essential for predicting how fast a reaction proceeds.”
“Rate Constant” in 21 languages
| English | Rate Constant |
|---|---|
| Turkish | hız sabiti |
| French | constante de vitesse |
| German | Geschwindigkeitskonstante |
| Spanish | constante de velocidad |
| Chinese | 速率常数 |
| Arabic | ثابت السرعة |
| Portuguese | constante de velocidade |
| Russian | константа скорости |
| Japanese | 速度定数 |
| Italian | costante di velocità |
| Vietnamese | hằng số tốc độ |
| Hindi | दर स्थिरांक |
| Thai | ค่าคงที่อัตรา |
| Indonesian | konstanta laju |
| Korean | 속도 상수 |
| Bengali | হার ধ্রুবক |
| Dutch | snelheidsconstante |
| Swedish | hastighetskonstant |
| Finnish | nopeusvakio |
| Ukrainian | константа швидкості |
Frequently asked questions
What does Rate Constant mean in engineering?
A proportionality factor in the rate law that relates the reaction rate to the concentration of reactants. It depends on temperature and is specific to each reaction. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Rate Constant?
Rate Constant is pronounced /reɪt ˈkɒn.stənt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Rate Constant used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The rate constant for this second-order reaction was determined to be 0.045 L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 350 K.”
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