## rate laws

$aR \to bP, Rate = -\frac{1}{a} \frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{1}{b}\frac{d[P]}{dt}$

Blake_Katsev_2E
Posts: 113
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:57 pm

### rate laws

How would we determine the rate law if the first step is slow but there is an intermediate as a reactant? As in if a reactant is later formed so that they would cancel out?

Elan Karlin Dis3H
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:57 pm

### Re: rate laws

If the first step is slow in the reaction mechanism, you can use the rate law of that equation (rate=k[reactants]^n) as that will be determining the rate since the next step (fast step) will occur immediately. It does not matter if there are intermediates. If the first step is fast and the next step is slow, then you use the pre equilibrium approach.

AonyaMontoya2B
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:28 am

### Re: rate laws

How do you find the rate law when given experimental data? like where you need to express for example rate=k[A]^(to some exponent)[B]^(some exponent)