What is the order and molecularity of the following elementary reaction? 2 NO _ 2(g) 2 NO _ (g) + O _ 2(g) , rate = k [ NO ₂]^2

Step-by-step solution

For an elementary reaction, the rate law is determined by its stoichiometry. Given rate = k[ NO ₂]^2 The order of the reaction is the sum of the exponents of the concentration terms in the rate law. Here, the exponent is 2 , so the order is 2 . The molecularity of an elementary reaction is the number of reactant molecules participating in the reaction. Since 2 molecules of NO ₂ are reacting, the molecularity is 2 (bimolecular). Thus, the reaction is second order and bimolecular. Answer: The reaction is second order