What is the rate-determining step in a multi-step chemical reaction mechanism?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The slowest elementary step
- Step 1: The slowest step in a reaction sequence governs the overall rate, acting as a kinetic bottleneck. Step 2. The rate law of the overall reaction is derived directly from the molecularity of this slowest step. Answer: The slowest elementary step. Why not the others: Fast initial steps reach pre-equilibrium before the rate-determining step occurs.
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