Chapter 18, Problem 14P

The isomerization reaction

${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{NC}\to {\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{CN}$

obeys the first-order rate law

$\text{rate}=-k\left[{\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{NC}\right]$

in the presence of an excess of argon. Measurementsat500 K reveal that in 520 s theconcentration of ${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{NC}$ decreases to 71% of its original value. Calculate the rateconstant k of the reaction at 500 K.