AbstractThe isoconversional method was used to elucidate the kinetics of reversible solid‐state reactions occurring under nonisothermal linear heating. The characteristic dependencies of the effective activation energy (E) on the extent of conversion (W) were established for two model processes: a reversible first‐order reaction and a reversible reaction followed by an irreversible one. For the first process,Eis almost independent ofWand varies between the activation energy of the direct and inverse reaction. For the second, process with an endothermic reversible step, the dependence ofEonWis of decreasing shape. The effective activation energy is limited by the sum of the activation energy of the irreversible reaction and the enthalpy of the reversible reaction, at low conversions, and by the activation energy of the irreversible reaction at high conversions. Analyses of the kinetic data for the dehydration of crystalhydrates, as well as other processes proceeding through a reversible step, show the dependencies ofEonWcharacteristic of a reversible reaction followed by an irreversible one. © 1995 John Wiley&Sons,