Final answer:
The rate at which subunits bind to one another, or the association rate, is directly proportional to the concentrations of the subunits involved in the reaction. This is known as a first-order reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate at which subunits bind to one another, or the association rate, is directly proportional to the concentrations of the subunits involved in the reaction. This is known as a first-order reaction, where the rate is directly proportional to the concentration of one reactant. The rate law equation for a first-order reaction is rate = k[reactant]. Therefore, by increasing the concentration of the subunits, the association rate will increase proportionally.