Moderate

For a hypothetical reaction: x2 + y2 → 2xy, the proposed mechanism is: (i) x2 → x + x (Fast) (ii) x + y2 → xy + y (slow) (iii) x + y → xy (Fast) The order of reaction will be:

Correct answer: D. 2

  • A. 0
  • B. 1
  • C. 1.5
  • D. 2

Explanation

The overall rate of a reaction is determined by the slowest step in the mechanism, which is often referred to as the rate-determining step.In this proposed mechanism, step (ii) is the slow step. The rate law for this step would be:Rate = k × [x] × [y2]This indicates that the rate of the reaction depends on the concentrations of both x and y, raised to the power of 1 for each, making it a first-order reaction with respect to both x and y.Since the reaction is first-order with respect to both x and y, the overall reaction order is the sum of the individual reaction orders, which gives us a total reaction order of 1 + 1 = 2.So, option D, "2," is the correct choice.

Last updated

About Reaction Kinetics

Reaction kinetics relates reaction rate to concentration, temperature, surface area and catalysts. Questions cover rate laws, reaction order, rate constants, activation energy and the activated complex, including how a catalyst lowers the activation energy without changing the overall energy change or equilibrium position.

Practise Reaction Kinetics

573 free Reaction Kinetics MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions