What is the difference in these two chemistry terms?

A

americano

New member
i dont understand what the difference is with the rate order or rate law and when are they asking for rate law in experiments and when are they asking for the one with reaction mechanisms??..sryy sounds a bit confusing but i hope u can help me!
 
the rate law is an expression (can be also called rate law expression).
it would be something like:
rate law = [A]^a^b

rate order would be the exponents in the rate law.
so total rate order of the above rate law = a+b
order in respect to [A] = a
order in respect to = b

the rate law can, and should, be determined by data where you have actual values derived from experimentation.
it can also be determined through mechanisms focusing on the RDS (rate determining step) but the rate law determined by a mechanism must agree with the rate law determined by experiment.
 
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