How do you calculate reaction order using the method of initial rates?

Question

i know i have to use this equation

rate = k [H2C2O4]x [KMnO4]y

how to i calculate the order with respect to H2C2O4 (x) and respect to KMnO4 (y)

the results to my experiment were:

intial conc of intial conc of reaction rate

H2C2O4 KMnO4

1) 0.3145 0.01083 5.022 x 10^-4

2) 0.6291 0.01083 8.407 x 10^-4

3) 0.3145 0.02166 2.960 x 10^-4

Answer 1

It's a bit long to go into here, so rather than reinvent the wheel, take a look at this:

http://www.chm.davidson.edu/Chemistryapp...

or this

http://itl.chem.ufl.edu/2045_s00/lecture...

Answer 2

You look at each coordinate.  Call the 2 levels of oxalic acid L1 and 2L1, and the 2 levels of K-permagante K1 and 2K1.  You can set up 3 eqtns, like (with the first)  5.02=k (L1 x K1).  Since you are not asked to find k, you can drop the 10^-4.  The next will be 8.41=k (2L1 x K1) and the last

2.96=k (L1 x 2K1).   Now you can find the "best" values of k, L1 and K1 from 3 eqtns.