When the first elementary step in a reaction mechanism is slower than all subsequent steps
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · AP · Chemistry · Kinetics · Kinetics
Problem
When the first elementary step in a reaction mechanism is slower than all subsequent steps, which of the following statements is most accurate?
(a) The reaction order equals the stoichiometric coefficients in the overall balanced equation, regardless of the mechanism.
(b) The overall rate law is determined solely by the molecularity of that first elementary step.
(c) The overall rate law is the sum of the molecularities of every elementary step in the mechanism.
(d) The last step always controls the rate because it is the step in which products are formed.