Question:easy

What is the molecularity of the reaction in Step II?

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Molecularity is always a whole number and cannot be zero or fractional, unlike the order of reaction.
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Remember what molecularity actually counts.
Molecularity simply counts how many reacting species, whether atoms, molecules or ions, must physically come together and collide in one single elementary step for that step to occur. It is a theoretical head count, not something measured experimentally.
Step 2: Look only at Step II in isolation.
Step II is written as $H_2O_2 + IO^- \rightarrow H_2O + I^- + O_2$. On the left-hand side, exactly two species are colliding to react, one molecule of $H_2O_2$ and one ion of $IO^-$.
Step 3: Count them up.
Since two species must collide simultaneously for this elementary step to happen, the molecularity of Step II is two, it is bimolecular.
\[ \boxed{\text{Molecularity of Step II} = 2} \]
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