5.2.2
Rate Equations 2
The Rate Determining Step (RDS)
The Rate Determining Step (RDS)
Reactions don’t always happen in one step. They may need many different collisions. Fortunately, most reactions have one step much slower than the rest, and so rate equations only depend on this one step.


RDS
RDS
- The rate determining step (RDS) is the slowest step in a reaction.
- It is the slowest because it has the highest activation energy for a successful collision.


An analogy for the RDS
An analogy for the RDS
- You can think of it like the ticket barriers at a crowded tube station.
- People on the other side of the barriers can move very quickly, and people before the barriers can also move very quickly.
- But it takes ages to get on a tube in rush hour because you can’t get through the barriers very fast.
- Getting through the barriers is the rate determining step in your tube journey.
Mechanistic Information
Mechanistic Information
The rate equation for a reaction can give us some important details about the mechanism for the reaction.


RDS and the reaction mechanism
RDS and the reaction mechanism
- Any reactant appearing in the rate equation is involved in the rate determining step (RDS).
- If two reactants appear in the rate equation, we know they’re both involved in the RDS.
- This means the mechanism must involve them colliding at some point.


Reactant orders
Reactant orders
- If a reactant appears in a rate equation, it will have an order.
- If the order is one, then one molecule of the reactant is involved in the rate determining step.
- If the order is two, then two molecules are involved.
- This gives us more information about which molecules, and how many of them, are colliding at some point in the mechanism.


Reaction - nucleophile and halogenoalkane
Reaction - nucleophile and halogenoalkane
- There are two possible mechanisms for the reaction between a nucleophile (say, OH-) and a halogenoalkane (say, 2-bromo-2-methylbutane).
- You can have a one-step process where the nucleophile collides with the halogenoalkane and ejects the bromide ion.
- You could also have a two-step process where the bromide leaves first and then the nucleophile adds.
- For this reaction, it’s found that the rate equation is:
- Rate = k[CH3CH2CH(CH3)BrCH3]
- This implies that the nucleophile is not involved in the RDS, and so the mechanism does not involve the collision of the nucleophile with the halogenoalkane.
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
Jump to other topics
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
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