Fast Step/Slow Step
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Fast Step/Slow Step
How do you know what step in a rxn mechanism is the slow/fast step? What does a slow/fast step even mean?
Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
Usually for the reaction mechanism it states whether or not the reaction is fast or slow. If the reaction step is slow than that is the rate determining step for the reaction. In addition you would know that the reverse reaction for the slow step is almost nonexistent while for the fast reaction the forward and reverse reaction could still be happening.
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Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
If not indicated, the fast step will be in equilibrium and the slow step will not.
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Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
Could someone please explain to me why the slowest step is favored rather than the fast step?
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Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
The slowest step determines the rate because the reaction cannot proceed until the slowest step has gone to completion. Essentially, if you think about it like a group on a hike, the slowest person determines the pace of everyone because the group cannot go on without them.
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Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
^ no matter how "fast" the fast one is the slowest one is always the determinant because each other reaction depends on it to also occur
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Re: Fast Step/Slow Step
I believe that if it had multiple steps, they would either give you experimental data to determine the slow step or they would just tell you what the rate-limiting step is.
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