Question:medium

Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding order of reaction?

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Order of reaction is experimental and can be fractional; Molecularity is theoretical and always a whole number.
Updated On: May 14, 2026
  • It is determined experimentally.
  • It is not influenced by stoichiometric coefficient of reactants.
  • It is sum of power to the concentration terms of reactants in rate law equation.
  • It is always whole number.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the incorrect statement regarding the "order of reaction" in chemical kinetics.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Statement (A) is correct because the order of reaction cannot be predicted just by looking at the balanced chemical equation; it must be determined through experiments.
2. Statement (B) is correct because the order may or may not be equal to the stoichiometric coefficients. It is an experimental property of the rate law.
3. Statement (C) is the definition of order. For a rate law $Rate = k[A]^x[B]^y$, the order is $n = x + y$.
4. Statement (D) is incorrect because the order of a reaction can be zero, a whole number, or even a fraction (e.g., $1.5$ or $0.5$).
Step 4: Final Answer:
The order of a reaction is not restricted to whole numbers; hence, statement (D) is not correct.
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