Rate and mechanism

Question 1

What is the rate-determining step?

Answer 1

The slowest step in the reaction mechanism of a multi-step reaction and reaction can only proceed at rate of slowest step

Question 2

What is a mechanism?

Answer 2

A sequence of steps which reactants are converted to products and each step is a single successful collision between 2 particles (a collision between 2< products is unlikely)

Question 3

What particles affect the rate determining step?

Answer 3

Only the concentration of particles which collide in the RDS effect the rate of this step and overall reaction

Question 4

How do you identify the equation?

Answer 4

1. Rate equation shows the reactants required for the rate determine step of the reactions mechanism.
2. Order tells us the number of moles for each required for this step

Question 5

What reactants are in the RDS?

Answer 5

Those in the overall equation can be in the rate equation

Question 6

What are rules of determining mechanisms?

Answer 6

1. The mechanism must agree with the chemical equation
2. The rate determining step must agree with the rate equation
3. Wherever possible, no collisions between 3+ particles/ions of same charge