Let the rate law be given by: Rate = k[A]x[B]y, where x and y are the orders of the reaction with respect to A and B respectively.
From the given data:
Comparing the first and second rows (keeping [B] constant):
\[\frac{4\times10^{-3}}{2\times10^{-3}}=\frac{k[0.2]^{x}[0.1]^{y}}{k[0.1]^{x}[0.1]^{y}}\]
\[2=2^{x}\]
\[x=1\]
Comparing the second and third rows (keeping [A] constant):
\[\frac{1.6\times10^{-2}}{4\times10^{-3}}=\frac{k[0.2]^{x}[0.2]^{y}}{k[0.2]^{x}[0.1]^{y}}\]
\[4=2^{y}\]
\[y=2\]
Therefore, the order of the reaction with respect to A is 1, and with respect to B is 2.
| Run | $A/mol\,L^{-1}$ | $B/mol\,L^{-1}$ | Initial rate of formation of $D/mol\,L^{-1}\,min^{-1}$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 0.1 | 0.1 | $6.0 \times 10^{-3}$ |
| II | 0.3 | 0.2 | $7.2 \times 10^{-2}$ |
| III | 0.3 | 0.4 | $2.88 \times 10^{-1}$ |
| IV | 0.4 | 0.1 | $2.40 \times 10^{-2}$ |