The kinetics of hydrolysis of ∝-bromopropionic acid were investigated at 80° and a constant pH of 3.3. An average first order rate constant of 4.74x10-3 min-1 was determined. This hydrolysis reaction has been studied by several workers. It is unique in that the reaction proceeds through inversion reactions, the first involving the carboxylate ion. This paper covers the first study where the pH of the system was maintained constant. The design if an inexpensive pH-stat for this purpose is given. The experiment and/ or data lend themselves useful for treatment in physical chemistry where the students must gather data in a bromopropinoic acid is used and the reaction is followed using NMR spectroscopy
