Abstract: The measurement of rate constants for the reaction between magnesium ribbon and dilute sulfuric acid constitutes a fundamental experiment in inorganic chemistry curricula across numerous universities. However, when applying first-order kinetic modeling, systematic deviations are frequently observed in the latter stage of the reaction. To examine the side-reaction hypothesis, we incorporated pH monitoring and established a standardized, automated experimental protocol with systematic data acquisition. Additionally, we developed a dedicated data processing toolkit to facilitate comprehensive analysis of the reaction kinetics in the magnesium-sulfuric acid system. The experimental analysis revealed that the main reaction (Mg with H₂SO₄) follows first-order kinetics, with its rate constant significantly increasing as temperature rises. In contrast, the side reaction (Mg with H₂O) aligns with a second-order kinetic model, exhibiting an activation energy of 127.79 kJ‧mol^‒1. Through multidimensional data integration and automated data processing workflows, this study systematically cross-validated the kinetic parameters of both main and side reactions. This approach successfully explained the experimental deviations observed in conductivity data during the reaction’s later stages. By transforming traditional verification-based experiments into a research-oriented learning platform, this work bridges the “data-driven approach” paradigm with practical laboratory instruction, providing a practical framework for cultivating innovative thinking and digital problem-solving skills among undergraduate students in non-chemistry science and engineering disciplines.

Key words: Rate constant of chemical reaction, Digital design, Data-driven research, Data processing program package