AP Chemistry / Unit 5: Kinetics
5.8 Reaction Mechanism and Rate Law
Notes
The slowest step (rate-determining step) controls the rate law.
- If the slow step is first, use its coefficients.
- A valid mechanism must add to the overall equation and match the experimental rate law.
Practice
Slow step: $NO_2+NO_2\to NO_3+NO$. Rate law:
From the slow first step.
The rate-determining step is the:
The bottleneck.
A proposed mechanism is acceptable if:
Both tests.
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