Steps

[Jorja De Jesus 2C]

If a step refers to a chemical equation how do you know which step it is from looking at the equation? How can you tell if it is slow or fast? How can you tell if it is an elementary step or a non-elementary step?

[JamieVu_2C]

Usually, the problem should tell you whether the elementary step is slow or fast. So, the problem will tell you that there are elementary steps, and then to find the overall reaction you would add the steps together. The slow step is the rate-determining step, so you would use its rate law.

[Alex Chen 2L]

It will usually tell you in the problem, and you can use the pre-equilibrium method to determine the rate law. You can tell if it is an elementary step if another step occurs that uses a reactant/product from the step.