For a first-order reaction, the relation between the reaction rate constant (k) and time (t) for a given percentage of completion (p) is:
ln(1−p1) = kt
For t₅₀ (50% completion), p = 0.5:
ln(1−0.51) = k⋅ t50
ln(0.51) = k⋅ t50
ln(2) = k⋅ t50
For t₈₇.₅ (87.5% completion), p = 0.875:
ln(1−0.8751) = k⋅ t87.5
ln(0.1251) = k⋅ t87.5 ln(8) = k⋅ t87.5
Now, we need to find the relationship between t₈₇.₅ and t₅₀:
k⋅ t50k⋅ t87.5 = ln(2)ln(8)
Since the k's cancel out, we have:
t50t87.5 = ln(2)ln(8)
Using the property of logarithms, we get:
t50t87.5 = ln(2)ln(23)
t50t87.5 = 3
So, the value of x is 3.