Answer: C. Doubling [X] from 0.10 to 0.20 mol dm⁻³ increases the rate fourfold, so the rate varies with [X]². For an elementary step, this corresponds to two reacting X particles: the step is bimolecular. The graph gives a rate of 7.2 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ s⁻¹ at [X] = 0.30 mol dm⁻³.

A: assumes a linear rate–concentration relationship, giving a unimolecular step and 2.4 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ s⁻¹.
B: reads the rate correctly but counts one type of reactant species instead of two reacting particles.
D: identifies the bimolecular step but uses a linear relationship to obtain the rate.

Remember: molecularity counts reacting particles in an elementary step.