Question

Assertion (A): Hydrolysis of an ester follows first order kinetics.
Reason (R): The concentration of water does not get altered much during the reaction.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

For ester hydrolysis, remember that water concentration is typically treated as constant due to its large excess. The kinetics depend on the concentration of the ester.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The hydrolysis of an ester exhibits first-order kinetics under conditions where water concentration is practically invariant, as indicated in Reason (R). However, the basis for this first-order behavior is not the constant water concentration, but rather the rate-determining step of the reaction mechanism. Therefore, Reason (R) is factual, but it does not correctly explain Assertion (A).