Abstract: In this paper, it has been elaborately elucidated that many instances of co linearity and the relationship among the rank of data matrix, the number of chemical components and the number of independent reactions. In addition, how to use rank augment technique to estimate the number of component is well discussed. Besides, it is specially explained that materials exchange among reactions has an effect on rank of data matrix. Furthermore, a set of approaches based on rank analysis technique, which can be used to determine the number of chemical components, independent reactions and the possible reaction mechanism in kinetic systems, are well developed. In the end, the rank analysis technique is applied to investigate the reaction mechanism between the polyaniline and the proton acid. The results, to see equation (24),show that there is a two-step Interco version among three absorbing structures under experimental condition of [H＋]=0.01～0.1 mol•L－1.

Key words: Kinetics, Rank analysis, Factor analysis, Polyaniline, Reaction mechanism