In the acid-catalyzed pseudo-first-order hydrolysis of an ester, the chemical reaction effectively a — Chemical Kinetics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of an ester ($CH_3COOC_2H_5 + H_2O \xrightarrow{H^+} CH_3COOH + C_2H_5OH$) heavily relies on the collision of two molecules (ester and water) in the rate-determining step, making the molecularity strictly 2 (bimolecular). However, because water is present in massive excess, its concentration remains virtually unchanged, making the kinetic order pseudo-first order.