Help with Rate-Determining Steps - High School Chemistry
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The overall reaction can only proceed as quickly as the __________.
The overall reaction can only proceed as quickly as the __________.
The rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism is a kinetic bottleneck, in that it prevents the overall reaction from proceeding; thus, it is what determines how quickly the overall reaction can proceed.
The rate-determining step in a reaction mechanism is a kinetic bottleneck, in that it prevents the overall reaction from proceeding; thus, it is what determines how quickly the overall reaction can proceed.
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Consider the following reaction:
The above reaction is actually composed of two steps that take place at different rates:
1. 
(slow step)
2. 
(fast step)
Based on this, what is the rate law for the reaction?
Consider the following reaction:
The above reaction is actually composed of two steps that take place at different rates:
1.
2.
Based on this, what is the rate law for the reaction?
For reactions with multiple steps, the step with the slowest rate will determine the rate law. In this reaction, the slowest step is the first step, so the reactants in that step will be the components of the rate law.
The first step is written as:
Using the reactants, we can determine the rate law to be
Note that we cannot determine the value of the exponents, since they will need to be found experimentally.
For reactions with multiple steps, the step with the slowest rate will determine the rate law. In this reaction, the slowest step is the first step, so the reactants in that step will be the components of the rate law.
The first step is written as:
Using the reactants, we can determine the rate law to be
Note that we cannot determine the value of the exponents, since they will need to be found experimentally.
Compare your answer with the correct one above