Rate determining step

Cards (13)

  • Rate-determining step

    The slowest step in a multi-step reaction sequence
  • Multi-step reactions

    Reactions that take place in a series of steps rather than a single step
  • An overall chemical equation compares the reactants and products
  • Stoichiometry
    The relative amounts of the species in a reaction, given by the balancing numbers
  • A reaction can only take place when particles collide
  • For a single-step reaction, multiple particles would have to collide simultaneously, which is extremely unlikely
  • Reaction mechanism

    The series of steps that make up an overall reaction
  • The slowest step in a multi-step reaction sequence is called the rate-determining step
  • Predicting reaction mechanisms

    Chemists use their knowledge and understanding of chemical principles
    Propose possible mechanisms for reactions
    Evaluate whether a proposed mechanism is likely to be correct
  • Rate equation

    Only includes reacting species involved in the rate-determining step
  • The orders in the rate equation match the number of species involved in the rate-determining step
  • The rate-determining step provides important evidence in supporting or rejecting a proposed reaction mechanism
  • Hydrolysis of haloalkanes

    RX + OH- -> ROH + X-
    Can be investigated experimentally to determine the overall order of reaction, the rate equation, and a possible mechanism