Steady-State Approximation and Rate Laws
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the evidence that intermediates, such as X, cancel out in the overall rate law when the steady state approximation is used?
TITLE: Mechanism with Intermediate: #000000
TABLE:
| Step | Reaction | Rate Determining |
|---|---|---|
| I | Fast | |
| II | Slow |
The overall rate law is determined by the slow step after expressing the intermediate in terms of reactants, so intermediates do not appear in the final rate law.
Intermediates are always included in the overall rate law because they are formed during the reaction.
The steady state approximation requires the concentration of the intermediate to fluctuate rapidly, thereby affecting the rate law directly.
Canceling the intermediate implies that it has no role in the reaction mechanism, making the rate law independent of the initial reactants.
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