Pre Equilibrium Condition

[Steven Garcia 1H]

Does the pre-equilibrium condition only work if the early step is fast and the later step is slow? What if there's not a fast step before the slow step?

[marisaimbroane1J]

If there is not a fast step, you do not need to assume the prior step is at equilibrium to generate the overall rate law from the mechanism. The pre-equilibrium assumption will be used in examples like the one from lecture where there is a fast step preceding the slow step.