For the rate law rate = k[A]^2[B], what are the overall order and the units of k (in M and s)?

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Multiple Choice

For the rate law rate = k[A]^2[B], what are the overall order and the units of k (in M and s)?

Explanation:
The main idea is to connect the rate law to both the overall reaction order and the units of the rate constant. The overall order is the sum of the exponents in the rate law: the concentration of A is raised to the power of 2, and the concentration of B to the power of 1, giving an overall order of 3. For the units, the rate has units of concentration per time, typically M s^-1. The product [A]^2[B] carries units M^2 × M = M^3. To balance the equation, k must convert M^3 into M s^-1, so its units are (M s^-1) / M^3 = M^-2 s^-1. Thus, the overall order is 3, and the units of k are M^-2 s^-1.

The main idea is to connect the rate law to both the overall reaction order and the units of the rate constant. The overall order is the sum of the exponents in the rate law: the concentration of A is raised to the power of 2, and the concentration of B to the power of 1, giving an overall order of 3.

For the units, the rate has units of concentration per time, typically M s^-1. The product [A]^2[B] carries units M^2 × M = M^3. To balance the equation, k must convert M^3 into M s^-1, so its units are (M s^-1) / M^3 = M^-2 s^-1.

Thus, the overall order is 3, and the units of k are M^-2 s^-1.

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