Question:

Assertion (A): For complex reactions, order of reaction is given by the fast step.
Reason (R): Order of reaction is determined experimentally.

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Rate-determining step = Slowest step, not fastest. Overall order is always found experimentally.
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
  • Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • A is true but R is false.
  • A is false but R is true.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Concept
The order of a complex (multi-step) reaction is determined by its rate-determining step, not by all steps collectively.

Step 2: Analysis
The Assertion is false: for complex reactions, the overall order is determined by the slowest step (the rate-determining step), not the fast step. The slow step is the bottleneck and dictates the overall rate law. The Reason is true: the overall order of a reaction is always determined experimentally by measuring how the rate changes with concentration, and it cannot be simply derived from the balanced equation for complex mechanisms.

Step 3: Conclusion
The Assertion is incorrect (it should be ``slow step,'' not ``fast step''), but the Reason is a correct statement about experimental determination.

Final Answer: (D)
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