Question

A person's wound was exposed to some bacteria and then bacteria growth started to happen at the same place. The wound was later treated with some antibacterial medicine and the rate of bacterial decay (r) was found to be proportional with the square of the existing number of bacteria at any instance. Which of the following set of graphs correctly represents the 'before' and 'after' situation of the application of the medicine? 

[Given : N = No. of bacteria, t = time, bacterial growth follows \(1^{st}\) order kinetics.]

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Answer 1

Correct option is: (2) 

Before applying medicine

\(\frac{dA}{dt} = K[A] \ \text{(First order growth) (Rate law) }\)

\(\frac{A}{A_0} = \frac{N}{N_0} = e^{Kt}\)

After applying medicine

\(\underset{(A)}{\text{Active Bacteria}} \rightarrow \underset{(I) }{\text{Inactive Bacteria}}\)

\(r = - \frac{dA}{dt} = K[A]^2 \quad \text{Rate law}\)

\(y = Kx^2 \ \text{Parabola}\)