Question

Explain second-order reactions in details.

Answer 1

Second order reaction

1. A second order reaction is a type of chemical reaction that depends on the concentration of two first order reactants or one second order-reactant.
2. This reaction proceeds at a rate proportional to the product of the concentration of two reactants and to the square of one reactant.
3. If the reaction is as follows: $2\mathrm{A}\to \mathrm{P}$, the of such reactions is written as $\mathrm{r}={\mathrm{KA}}^2$ where K= rate constant of second order reaction.
4. In these reactions, the rate is proportional to the square of the concentration of one reactant, hence it is a second order reaction.
5. Unit of rate of reaction (r) is ${\mathrm{molL}}^{-1}.{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$.
6. Examples: In many biological reactions, just like the formation of double stranded DNA from the two complementary strands, this whole process is prescribed by kinetics known as Second-order kinetics.

Therefore, Second order kinetics depends on squares of concentrations either two or one.