A reaction has a rate law, rate = kA]B]^2 What is the overall order of the reaction?

a. 2 b. 3 c. 0 d. 1 e. 4

chemistry - DrBob222, Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:53pm
The overall is the sum of the orders of each component.

still don't get it but guessing A

What is there to get? I think your problem may be that you don't know how to read the rate law equation. The equation is 1st order with respect to A (I know that because the exponent of A in the rate law equation is 1) and it is 2nd order with respect to B (similarly, the exponent is 2). Then 1 + 2 = 3. So 3rd order over all.

To determine the overall order of a reaction, you need to add up the orders of each reactant in the rate law equation. In this case, the rate law is given as rate = k[A]^B^2.

The order of reactant A is indicated by the exponent in front of [A] in the rate law equation, which is 1.

The order of reactant B is indicated by the exponent in front of [B] in the rate law equation, which is 2.

To find the overall order of the reaction, simply add up the orders of reactant A and reactant B:

Overall order = 1 + 2 = 3.

Therefore, the overall order of the reaction is 3, and option b. is the correct answer.