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Chemistry · L4 · Steady-State Approximation vs the Rate-Determining-Step Shortcut

When the rate-determining-step shortcut is enough, versus when the more general steady-state approximation is needed — and how the RDS shortcut falls out of the steady-state result as a limiting case.

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Proposed mechanism with a reactive intermediateIs one elementary step overwhelmingly slower than all the others?RDS shortcut:rate ≈ rate of that one slow stepSteady-state approximation:set d[intermediate]/dt ≈ 0, solve for [I], substitute backWhen one rate constant truly dominates,the steady-state result reduces to the RDS shortcutStill gives a valid rate laweven when no single step dominatesYes, clearlyNo, or unclear

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