Chemistry

Chemistry

Problem

The following elementary step occurs in a gas-phase mechanism: 2Cl(g)+O2(g)→Cl2O2(g)2\mathrm{Cl}(g) + \mathrm{O_2}(g) \rightarrow \mathrm{Cl_2O_2}(g). Provide the rate law for this step and state its molecularity.
Intuitive explanation

This problem tests whether you can read an elementary step directly to write its rate law—no need to derive or manipulate anything. For elementary reactions, the rate law's exponents come straight from the stoichiometric coefficients in the equation: each reactant's exponent equals how many molecules of it participate. The molecularity is simply the total number of molecules that must collide, which you can count from the left side of the equation.

Intuitive explanation

This problem tests whether you can read an elementary step directly to write its rate law—no need to derive or manipulate anything. For elementary reactions, the rate law's exponents come straight from the stoichiometric coefficients in the equation: each reactant's exponent equals how many molecules of it participate. The molecularity is simply the total number of molecules that must collide, which you can count from the left side of the equation.

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