Order of a complex reaction

 Order of complex reactions 


  The order of a complex reaction, i.e., a multi step reaction is determined by taking its slowest step known as rate determining step.

        For example, in the reaction  2NO² + F² --> 2NO²F, the number of molecules involved is three, but the rate of the reaction determined experimentally is [NO²][F²]. Thus it's order is 2. 
         
         Thus possible mechanism for the reaction, may be written as 

NO² + F² --> NO²F + F ( Slow) 
NO²F + F --> NO²F²     (Fast) 

Example: 
Reaction between NO and H²
2NO + H² -slow-> N² + H²O²
H²O² + H² -fast-> 2H²O 

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