Rate-limiting step

Definition

In the context of organic chemistry, particularly during the SN1 reaction, the rate-limiting step is the slowest step in a reaction mechanism that determines the overall rate of the reaction. It acts as a bottleneck, controlling how fast the product can be formed from reactants.

Related terms

Activation energy:

The minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a specific reaction.

Reaction mechanism: A detailed description of the steps through which reactants convert into products in a chemical reaction.

Transition state:

A high-energy state through which reactants must pass for a chemical reaction to occur, often associated with the rate-limiting step