Answer to Question #172265 in Organic Chemistry for Pradeep Chandra Joshi

Question

Draw and explain the potential energy diagram for the reaction, 

 

 A B C 

i) When step 1 is the rate determining step. 

ii) When step 2 is the rate determining step.

Answer 1

Each elementary step has its own activation energy. If a certain step is a rate determining step, then its speed is the lowest and, therefore, its activation energy is the highest.