The conversion of acetyl chloride to methyl acetate occurs via the following two-step mechanism: If the concentration of ^-OCH₃ were increased 5 times,what would happen to the rate of the reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The concentration of ^-OCH₃ is the concentration of the intermediate in the rate-determining step (RDS). According to the RDS concept, the rate of the reaction depends on the slowest step of the mechanism, which is the RDS. Therefore, increasing the concentration of the intermediate will increase the rate of the reaction, and a 5-fold increase in concentration would result in a 5-fold increase in the rate. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

The Conversion of Acetyl Chloride to Methyl Acetate Occurs Via