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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: sodium.dioxid on May 11, 2012, 03:01:35 PM

Title: Why does this happen in the rate law
Post by: sodium.dioxid on May 11, 2012, 03:01:35 PM
In a nutshell, this ---> rate = k [A]2 <--- doesn't make sense


Consider a bimolecular reaction in which a molecule has to collide with one of its own kind to form a product. That is, one for which the rate is k[A]2

The way I seem to understand this process is by breaking up A into two halves and considering them to be two different species (I am pretending to dress up half of the A molecules and disguise them as another species)

So, A = B + C, where B=A/2 and C=A/2. Thus, rate law becomes k*B*C

Why do these two rate laws give different results?

Basically, why isn't the rate law k[A/2]2 instead of k[A]2?



EDIT: Sorry, I see my fallacy now.