Abstract In this paper, we present a theoretical study of the combined effects of activation energy and binary chemical reaction in an unsteady mixed convective flow over a boundary of infinite length. The current study incorporates the influence of the Brownian motion, thermophoresis and viscous dissipation on the velocity of the fluid, temperature of the fluid and concentration of chemical species. The equations are solved numerically to a high degree of accuracy using the spectral quasilinearization method. Brownian motion was noted as the main process by which the mass is transported out of the boundary layer. The effect of thermophoretic parameter seems to be contrary to the expected norm. We expect the thermophoretic force to ‘push’ the mass away from the surface thereby reducing the concentration in the boundary layer, however, concentration of chemical species is seen to increase in the boundary layer with an increase in the thermophoretic parameter. The use of a heated plate of infinite length increased the concentration of chemical species in the boundary layer. The Biot number which increases and exceeds a value of one for large heated solids immersed in fluids increases the concentration of chemical species for its increasing values. Highlights Combined effects of activation energy and binary chemical reaction are proposed. Spectral quasi-linearization method (SQLM) is used for computer simulations. Use Arrhenius activation energy in the chemical species concentration. Validate the accuracy and convergence using residual error analysis.