This study aims to investigate the effects of unsteady MHD chemically reacting radiated flow with variable conductivity about a flat plate in a uniform stream of fluid (Blasius flow), and about a sheet in a quiescent ambient fluid(Sakiadis flow) both under a convective surface boundary condition. Numerical solutions are offered graphically and tabular form with the aid of shooting approximation. Results for Blasius and Sakiadis flow cases are exhibited through plots for the parameters of concern. It is observed that the heat and mass transfer rate is high in Blasius flow when compared with Sakiadis flow. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.