Question:easy

Identify the correct statement:

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Order is experimental and applies to the overall reaction. Molecularity is theoretical and applies only to single elementary steps.
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • Molecularity of a reaction is an experimental quantity.
  • For complex reactions molecularity has no meaning.
  • Molecularity of a reaction can be zero or even a fraction.
  • Molecularity more than three is very common in chemical reactions.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Nature of molecularity.
Molecularity is a theoretical quantity defined as the number of reacting species that must collide simultaneously in a single elementary step. It is always a positive whole number and cannot be zero or fractional.
Step 2: Molecularity vs. order.
Reaction order is determined experimentally from the rate law. Molecularity, in contrast, is a theoretical concept derived from the proposed mechanism, not from experiment. Option (A) incorrectly calls molecularity experimental.
Step 3: Complex reactions.
A complex (multi-step) reaction has no single overall simultaneous collision. Since molecularity applies only to individual elementary steps, it has no meaning for the overall complex reaction. Option (B) correctly states this.
Step 4: Eliminate other options.
Option (C) is wrong because molecularity must be a whole number. Option (D) is wrong because reactions with four or more simultaneous collisions are essentially impossible.
\[ \boxed{(B)} \]
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