Question

Under the free radical substitution of CH₄with Cl₂ , the initiation step i.e.,homolytic cleavage of Cl-Cl bond is the rate-determining step .State the reason behind calling it the '' rate-determining step '' .

Answer 1

Rate is the speed at which the reaction occurs.
A reaction occurs in a series of discreet steps and the overall rate of the reaction is the rate of the slowest step.
In free radical substitution of alkane with halide, the homolytic cleavage step is the slowest and hence the rate determining step.