Which one of the following statement for order of reaction is not corr...
Explanation:
To determine the order of a reaction, we can perform experiments and analyze the rate of reaction under different conditions. The order of reaction refers to the power to which the concentration terms in the rate law are raised. Let's analyze each statement to determine which one is incorrect:
a) Order can be determined experimentally:
This statement is correct. The order of a reaction cannot be deduced from the balanced chemical equation alone. It must be determined experimentally by measuring the rate of reaction under different conditions such as changing the concentrations of reactants.
b) Order of reaction is equal to sum of the powers of concentration terms in differential rate law:
This statement is correct. The order of reaction is determined by analyzing the rate law equation. The rate law equation expresses the relationship between the rate of reaction and the concentrations of the reactants. The powers to which the concentration terms are raised in the rate law equation give the order of reaction. The overall order of reaction is equal to the sum of these powers.
c) It is not affected by the stoichiometric coefficient of the reactants:
This statement is correct. The stoichiometric coefficient of the reactants in the balanced chemical equation does not affect the order of reaction. The order of reaction is solely determined by the experimental data and the rate law equation.
d) Order cannot be fractional:
This statement is incorrect. The order of reaction can be fractional. In some reactions, the rate of reaction may not be directly proportional to the concentration of the reactants. For example, in a first-order reaction, the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of a single reactant. However, in a fractional order reaction, the rate depends on a fractional power of the concentration term in the rate law equation. Fractional orders are observed in certain complex reactions or reactions with catalysis.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' because the order of reaction can be fractional in some cases.