Inversion of cane sugar in mild acidic conditions is a:

Options

A. Pseudo unimolecular reaction
B. Second order reaction
C. Termolecular reaction
D. Zero order reaction

Answer

To determine the nature of the reaction involved in the inversion of cane sugar (sucrose) in mild acidic conditions, we can analyze the reaction step by step.

### Step 1: Write the Reaction Equation
The inversion of cane sugar can be represented by the following chemical equation:
\[ \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 \]
This means that sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) reacts with water to form glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and fructose (C₆H₁₂O₆).

### Step 2: Identify the Reaction Conditions
The reaction occurs under mild acidic conditions, which typically means that the acid acts as a catalyst and does not get consumed in the reaction.

### Step 3: Analyze the Rate of Reaction
In this reaction, the concentration of water is in excess. Therefore, we can consider the concentration of water as constant. The rate of the reaction can be expressed as:
\[ \text{Rate} = k[\text{sucrose}]^n \]
Where \( k \) is the rate constant and \( n \) is the order of the reaction with respect to sucrose.

### Step 4: Determine the Order of the Reaction
Since the concentration of water is constant, the reaction behaves as if it is first order with respect to sucrose. This is referred to as a pseudo-first-order reaction because the reaction appears to follow first-order kinetics due to the excess of one reactant (water).

### Step 5: Conclusion
Thus, the inversion of cane sugar in mild acidic conditions is classified as a **pseudo-first-order reaction** or **pseudo-unimolecular reaction**.

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