The rate law for an elementary step of a reaction of the form $2A \Rightarrow$ Products is given by $rate=k[A]^2$, while in the form $A \Rightarrow$ products is given by $k=[A]$. Is there some sort of intuition as to why the the reaction with $2A$ is quadratic, instead of double the one with $A$? Essentially, why is the equation $k[A]^2$ instead of $2k[A]$?
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$\begingroup$ First of all rate law for any reaction is experimentally determined and also In general concentrations of reactant & products are raised to their stochiometrical coefficients. $\endgroup$– AviCommented Feb 8, 2017 at 8:59
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$\begingroup$ Yes, but can you give a reason as to why there is an exponential relationship rather than a linear one? $\endgroup$– Andi GuCommented Feb 8, 2017 at 12:51
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1 Answer
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Intuitively, a reaction between A and B to give C will go twice as fast when you double the concentration of A (because collisions between A and B will occur twice as frequently). Similarly, doubling the concentration of B will also double the reaction rate. But what about the specific case where A and B are the same substance (A + A -> C)? When you double the concentration of A, the rate is quadrupled; when you triple the concentration of A, the rate goes up by a factor of 9, etc.
