Order and molecularity
Chemical Kinetics · Chemistry
Molecule viewer
Interactive 3DBall-and-stick models with true bond angles — switch molecule to compare shapes.
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Study notes
Reaction: 2N₂O₅ → 4NO₂ + O₂ has rate = k[N₂O₅]. Find order and molecularity. Step 1: Order = 1 (exponent in rate law). Step 2: Proposed mechanism: N₂O₅ → NO₂ + NO₃ (slow), then fast steps. Step 3: Slow step involves 1 molecule → molecularity = 1 (unimolecular). Step 4: Order (1) matches slow-step molecularity (1) here — not always! Order is measured; molecularity is proposed.