Question

Write any two differences between Molecularity of reaction and Order of reaction.

Hint:

Molecularity applies only to elementary reactions, while the order of reaction can be determined for both elementary and complex reactions.

Answer 1

Step 1: Difference between Molecularity and Order of Reaction.
1. Molecularity of reaction refers to the number of reacting species (atoms, molecules, or ions) involved in a single step of a reaction. It is always a whole number and can only be determined from the reaction mechanism. Order of reaction, on the other hand, refers to the power to which the concentration of a reactant is raised in the rate law equation. It is an empirical value that may not necessarily be a whole number. 2. Molecularity is defined for elementary reactions, i.e., a single-step reaction, while Order of reaction is determined experimentally and can apply to both elementary and complex reactions.

Step 2: Conclusion.
Thus, molecularity is associated with the reaction mechanism, and order is determined from experimental data.