Reaction Mechanism

[Ian_Lee_1E]

What exactly is a reaction mechanism in definition?

Also, why is overall rate law the rate law of the slowest step?

[Charlotte Adams 1A]

Hello! The reaction mechanism as, Dr. Lavelle mentioned, is simply the number of steps that take place as reactants go to products. In regards to your second question, the overall rate law is determined by the slowest step, also known as the rate-determining step, because the other steps following the rate-determining step take place as soon as intermediate is formed and thus do not effect overall rate. If this doesnt make sense, rewatch the part of the lecture where Dr. Lavelle talks about baking.

Hope this helps

[Nico Medina]

I was wondering this too, thanks for the help!

[Michelle Argueta 1E]

A reaction mechanism is the number of steps that it takes the transformation to occur from reactants to products. Also, the overall rate law is the rate law of the slowest step because it is the rate determining step and anything after that will not affect the overall rate.

[Kurosh Zamiri 1I]

A reaction mechanism involves the number of steps within a chemical reaction that it takes for reactants to form into products. The slowest step in a reaction mechanism is known as the rate-determining step. Furthermore, this rate-determining step is responsible for the rate law, because the reaction can only go as fast as the rate-determining step.

[Brandon Padilla 2L]

A reaction mechanism is the number of steps it takes to go from reactants to products. The overall rate law is the rate law of the slowest step because it determines the minimum rate for the rest of the reaction.