Question

The elementary step of the reaction,
\[\ce{2Na + Cl2 -> 2NaCl}\], is found to follow a third order kinetics. The molecularity of the reaction is ______.

Options

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Answer 1

The elementary step of the reaction,
\[\ce{2Na + Cl2 -> 2NaCl}\], is found to follow a third order kinetics. The molecularity of the reaction is 3.

Explanation:

Molecularity refers to the number of reacting species involved in one elementary step. For an elementary reaction molecularity is equal to the order of reaction. Since the elementary step follows third-order kinetics, it involves three reacting species simultaneously (e.g., 2 Na atoms and 1 Cl₂ molecule).