Reaction Step that Determines Rate

[Bea Cruz]

How can we tell which step of a reaction determines the rate?

[Gilana Equina 2L]

The rate-determining step is the slowest elementary step and has a higher energy barrier than fast elementary steps.

[Denise Mora 1C]

Hi, the slowest step will usually be the rate-determining step used for the rate law because the rate of the overall reaction should not exceed the rate of the slowest step in the overall reaction. The rate-determining step usually is the step that includes the formation or the breaking of the molecules, thus becomes the slowest step.