Elementary steps

$aR \to bP, Rate = -\frac{1}{a} \frac{d[R]}{dt} = \frac{1}{b}\frac{d[P]}{dt}$

Siddiq 1E
Posts: 106
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am

Elementary steps

How are non-elementary steps and elementary steps related?

Vincent Leong 2B
Posts: 207
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am

Re: Elementary steps

you use nonelementary steps to determine whether there's a catalyst or intermediate present in the elementary step

gabbymaraziti
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 am

Re: Elementary steps

Elementary steps make up each baby-step of the reaction, and sum to the total reaction. The total reaction is usually a non-elementary step.

VPatankar_2L
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Re: Elementary steps

You can use the coefficients of reactants in an elementary step to determine the orders of each reactant fr the rate law. For the nonelementary step, you can't determine the rate law without experimental data. The combination of elementary steps can help you derive the overall reaction and the overall rate law if you know which step is slow and fast.