Assume that the rate law for a generic chemical reaction is rate = [a][b]3. what is the reaction order in a, the reaction order in b, and the overall reaction order?

If the reaction is

X + Y → Products

Then the rate is

R = k[X]ᵃ [Y]ᵇ

Where,

R = the rate of the reaction (mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹)

k = rate constant

[X] and [Y] = concentrations of the reactants (mol L⁻¹)

a = order of the reaction with respect to X

b = order of the reaction with respect to Y

overall reaction order, n = a + b

according to the given rate expression,

rate = [a][b]³

order of the reaction with respect to 'a' is 1

order of the reaction with respect to 'b' is 3

Overall reaction order = 1 + 3

= 4