Question

Which step in SN1 reaction is a slow rate determining step?

(a) Attack of nucleophile

(b) Formation of a racemic mixture

(c) Formation of a transition state

(d) All of the mentioned

The question was posed to me in an online quiz.

My enquiry is from Nucleophillic Substitution Reaction topic in division Reactivity of Molecules Reaction Mechanism of Engineering Chemistry I

Answer 1

Right option is (c) Formation of a transition state

The explanation is: The first step of formation of the transition state is a slow rate determining step in SN1 reaction.