Rate-Determining Step
Definition
The rate-determining step is the slowest step in a chemical reaction that determines the overall speed or rate of the reaction.
Analogy
Think of a relay race where each runner represents a step in a chemical reaction. No matter how fast the other runners are, the overall time of the race will be greatly influenced by the slowest runner. This slowest runner is like the rate-determining step in a chemical reaction.
Related terms
Chemical Kinetics: The study of rates at which reactions occur and factors affecting these rates.
Reaction Mechanism: A detailed description of how a chemical reaction occurs, including all steps involved and their relative speeds.
Transition State: The highest-energy state during a chemical reaction, often corresponding to the rate-determining step.
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