The method of matched asymptotic expansions is employed for a systematic analysis of some chemical kinetic effects on near equilibrium combustion of nonpremixed systems. The model problem of a spherically symmetrical liquid fuel droplet in an oxidizing enviroment is chosen as a vehicle of study because it leads to relatively concise analytical solutions. As a consequence of the choice of a one‐step irreversible finite‐rate Arrhenius reaction, it is shown that perturbations from the equilibrium (infinite‐rate reaction) mass burning rate and perturbations from the equilibrium temperature and composition profiles are affected functionally by the choice of reaction orders with respect to oxidizer and fuel. Pressure dependences of burning‐rate perturbations are derived.