40 reaction coordinate diagram rate determining step
The fully filled in reaction coordinate diagram is displayed below. The arrow marked in the question represents the activation energy, which is the energy barrier that must be overcome in order for the reactants to form products. This reaction is also exothermic because the energy of the products is lower than that of the reactants. Take two-step exothermic reaction where the FIRST transition state is HIGHER than the second transition state: The step with the higher activation energy, is the slow step (The first transition state). Because it has the higher activation energy, it will have the lower rate constant. The rate determining step would be the first step as well. Re: Determining Slow Step. Postby Jenny Cheng 2K » Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:49 pm. The two important components to look for when determining reaction mechanisms are 1) that the sum of elementary steps = overall reaction and 2) that the mechanisms must agree with the experimentally determined rate law. The elementary...