CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

Will the problem typically tell us which step in the mechanism is the slow step? Are there clues in wording to look for that hint which step in mechanism is the slow step?

Based on the practice problems in the textbook, the questions usually indicate the slow and fast elementary steps.

Hope it helps!

Also remember that the rate law is determined by the slow step, so if the rate law is given, you know which one is the slow step because they have to correspond.