Intermediates

[Johana Vargas 2B]

Why do intermediate not belong in the final rate law?

[Jasmin 2C]

Intermediates are formed in one step and consumed is a subsequent step which is why they aren't included in the final reaction.

[Debra Rosen 3L]

To add on to the above, the overall reaction is the sum of all the elementary steps. If we treat this as addition, with the arrow as an equation sign, when we add the elementary steps the intermediates will be present on both sides of the reaction and thus will cancel out.