For a multistep reaction the observed order of the reaction is generally determined by the 1. activation energy. 2. time at which the concentrations of all species are measured. 3. slowest reaction of the sequence. 4. stoichiometric coefficients of the net reaction. 5. ratio of reactant and product concentrations.

Suppose a pair of chemical compounds a and b can react in two different ways: a + b -> c reaction 1 gives product c. a + b -> d reaction 2 gives product d. the following facts are known about the two reactions: . reaction 1 is endothermic and reaction 2 is exothermic. if a reaction vessel is charged (filled) with a and b , then at first d is produced faster than c. use these facts to sketch a qualitative reaction energy diagram for both reactions. note: because these sketches are only qualitative, the energies don? t have to be exact. they only have to have the right relationship to each other. for example, if one energy is less than another, that fact should be clear in your sketch.