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Second Order Reaction

Definition

A second order reaction is another type of chemical reaction where the rate depends on either two different reactants' concentrations or square of concentration of single reactant.

Analogy

Imagine playing a game with your friend where you both need to hit buttons at exactly same time for something exciting happen (like unlocking bonus points). The speed at which you can unlock these bonuses (rate) depends on both your and your friend's ability to hit those buttons together (concentrations).

Related terms

Bimolecular Reaction: This is when two molecules collide and interact in a second-order reaction. It's like our button-pressing game analogy - both players need to act together!

Integrated Rate Law: For second-order reactions, this equation describes how concentration changes over time. It’s like tracking how well you and your friend improve at hitting those buttons simultaneously as time goes by.

Reaction Mechanism: This term refers to the step-by-step sequence of reactions by which the overall chemical change occurs. In our game analogy, it's like understanding how hitting buttons together leads to unlocking those bonus points.