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for a hypothetical reaction: aA + bB --> cC + dD, where the lower case letters represent coefficients
i'm told the rate expressions are:
rate=-[A]/a x change in time
rate = -/b x change in time
rate = [C]/c x change in time
rate = [D]/d x change in time
minus signs represents decrease of reactants and no sign represents increase in products over some time period.
anyways, it seems like we can use that expression even when the reaction isnt elementary. isnt this somehow inaccurate. maybe im missing something conceptually here but how does the rate expression above relate to the "rate" determined by the rate law?? is the above just an approximation whereas the rate determined by the rate law the actual value determined by the rate determining step of the reaction???
i'm told the rate expressions are:
rate=-[A]/a x change in time
rate = -/b x change in time
rate = [C]/c x change in time
rate = [D]/d x change in time
minus signs represents decrease of reactants and no sign represents increase in products over some time period.
anyways, it seems like we can use that expression even when the reaction isnt elementary. isnt this somehow inaccurate. maybe im missing something conceptually here but how does the rate expression above relate to the "rate" determined by the rate law?? is the above just an approximation whereas the rate determined by the rate law the actual value determined by the rate determining step of the reaction???