Appeared in: 2026 (2 sets)
Consider the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide ($ ext{H}_2 ext{O}_2$) as per the equation given below :
$2 ext{H}_2 ext{O}_2 \xrightarrow[ ext{Alkaline medium}]{ ext{I}^-} 2 ext{H}_2 ext{O} + ext{O}_2$
The mechanism for this reaction was found to be :
Step I : $ ext{H}_2 ext{O}_2 + ext{I}^- \longrightarrow ext{H}_2 ext{O} + ext{IO}^-$ (slow)
Step II : $ ext{H}_2 ext{O}_2 + ext{IO}^- \longrightarrow ext{H}_2 ext{O} + ext{I}^- + ext{O}_2$ (fast)
(a) Write the rate law expression.
(b) Determine the order of reaction with respect to $ ext{H}_2 ext{O}_2$, $ ext{I}^-$ and overall order of reaction.
(c) What is the molecularity of the reaction in Step II ?