Solution: The hydrolysis of the sugar sucrose to the sugars glucose and fructose, C12H22O11 + H2O ⟶ C6H12O6 + C6H12O6 follows a first-order rate equation for the disappearance of sucrose: Rate = k[C12H22O11] (T

The hydrolysis of the sugar sucrose to the sugars glucose and fructose, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O ⟶ C₆H₁₂O₆ + C₆H₁₂O₆ follows a first-order rate equation for the disappearance of sucrose: Rate = k[C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁] (The products of the reaction, glucose and fructose, have the same molecular formulas but differ in the arrangement of the atoms in their molecules.)

(b) When a solution of sucrose with an initial concentration of 0.150 M reaches equilibrium, the concentration of sucrose is 1.65 × 10⁻⁷ M. How long will it take the solution to reach equilibrium at 27 °C in the absence of a catalyst? Because the concentration of sucrose at equilibrium is so low, assume that the reaction is irreversible.

(c) Why does assuming that the reaction is irreversible simplify the calculation in part (b)?