Rate Equations: Determination of the Rate Equation

Question 1

What is the rate determining step?

Answer 1

• The slowest step in a multi-step reaction

- The overall rate is decided by this step since species occurring in the RDS will also occur in the rate equation

Question 2

When given a multi-step reaction, how can you tell which step is the rate-determining step?

Answer 2

• It’s the step that has the same abundance of reactants in the rate equation
• In exam questions when asked to justify your answer state, [relevant] molecules are in the rate equation