Rounding Reaction Orders

[Jordan_Wesson_2J]

Why do we round reaction orders when they are not exactly whole numbers?

[Tuong Nguyen 2I]

We round these values because of the possible experimental errors that could occur when we don't round. Plus it just makes calculations easier! Hope this helps!

[EllaBerry]

When reaction orders are not whole numbers, its most likely due to experimental errors and therefore we just round them.

[BenJohnson1H]

Would be acceptable to not round the order and only round the value of the answer, which may be the rate constant, for example?

[Tuong Nguyen 2I]

Would be acceptable to not round the order and only round the value of the answer, which may be the rate constant, for example?

I'd suggest that you round the order rather than the value of the answer, since in the textbook and in lectures, we've only seen reaction orders as whole numbers rather than specific decimal values.