Final answer:
The initial rate of the reaction increases by a factor of 9 when the concentration of B is increased from 0.1 M to 0.3 M, due to the squared dependence on B's concentration in the rate expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate expression for a particular reaction is rate = k[A][B]^2. When the initial concentration of B is increased from 0.1 M to 0.3 M, we must consider the change in the rate with respect to the concentration of B. Since the rate law indicates that the rate is proportional to the concentration of B squared ([B]^2), a change in [B] has a squared effect on the rate.
If the initial concentration of B is increased by a factor of three (from 0.1 M to 0.3 M), the initial rate will increase by a factor of three squared, because the rate is proportional to [B]^2. Therefore, the rate increases by 3^2, which is 9. The initial rate will increase by a factor of 9.