Question Detail
Question
A proposed mechanism for a reaction is: Step 1: A → B + C (slow), Step 2: B + D → E (fast). What is the rate law for the overall reaction?
Correct Answer
Option A is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
The rate-determining step is the slow step, which is the first step: A → B + C. This step is unimolecular, so the rate law is rate = k[A].
Hint
The rate law is determined by the reactants in the slowest (rate-determining) step.