Without performing complex calculations, determine the order of a reaction that has the following initial rates for the specified starting concentration:

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The order of a reaction can be determined by comparing the initial rates at different starting concentrations. If the rate remains constant, the reaction is zero order. If the rate doubles when the concentration is doubled, the reaction is first order. If the rate quadruples when the concentration is doubled, the reaction is second order. If the rate increases by a factor of eight when the concentration is doubled, the reaction is third order. In this case, we don't have multiple initial rates at different concentrations, but we can still determine that the reaction is first order because the initial rate is directly proportional to the starting concentration (both are equal). This is consistent with a first-order reaction, where the rate is proportional to the concentration of one reactant.

Without Performing Complex Calculations, Determine the Order of a Reaction