## Division in Rate Law

$aR \to bP, Rate = -\frac{1}{a} \frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{1}{b}\frac{d[P]}{dt}$

Liz White 1K
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:00 am

### Division in Rate Law

What is the order of the reaction if the rate law includes division, such as rate = k*[A]/[B]? Would it be zero due to the fact that [A] has a power of 1 and [B] has a power of -1? Explain how this works please!

Seth_Evasco1L
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:00 am

### Re: Division in Rate Law

Yes, it would be zero! Overall order for "rate = k*[A]a/[B]b" is equal to a+b.

For rate = k*[A]/[B], overall order would be a+b or 1+(-1) = 0.

Leah Savage 2F
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:06 am

### Re: Division in Rate Law

I thought that if there is a negative order, the overall rate law is indefinite?

Mitch Walters
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### Re: Division in Rate Law

The answer should be zero, since you would have a negative exponent in the denominator, and a positive exponent in the numerator, so when added together they should equal zero.