Rate Determining Step
Easychemistry
In a multi-step reaction, the rate of overall reaction is determined by:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Slowest step
Most chemical reactions are Complex Reactions that occur in multiple steps (a mechanism).
- The steps are called elementary steps.
- The Rate-Determining Step (RDS) is the slowest step in the entire mechanism.
- The overall speed of the reaction depends on this bottleneck step because individual steps cannot proceed until previous ones are complete, and subsequent fast steps will merely 'wait' for the product of the slow step.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- chemical kinetics
- Topic
- rate determining step
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Slowest step
Most chemical reactions are Complex Reactions that occur in multiple steps (a mechanism).
- The steps are called elementary steps.
- The Rate-Determining Step (RDS) is the slowest step in the entire mechanism.
- The overall speed of the reaction depends on this bottleneck step because individual steps cannot proceed until previous ones are complete, and subsequent fast steps will merely 'wait' for the product of the slow step.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter chemical kinetics, covering the topic of rate determining step. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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