A chemical reaction mechanism proceeds exclusively via two isolated steps. Step 1: (slow). Step 2: (fast). Assuming the Steady State Approximation or RDS principles apply perfectly, what is the precis

Question

A chemical reaction mechanism proceeds exclusively via two isolated steps. Step 1: $2A \xrightarrow{k_1} B$ (slow). Step 2: $B + C \xrightarrow{k_2} D$ (fast). Assuming the Steady State Approximation or RDS principles apply perfectly, what is the precise overall mathematical integer order of this entire reaction?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: 2. For any complex sequential multi-step reaction, the absolute kinetics are universally bottlenecked and governed by the slowest elementary step (the Rate Determining Step). Since Step 1 is the slowest, the overall rate law is simply . The power of the concentration terms dictates the order, making the overall integer order exactly 2.

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