Answer: Option (d) is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Steps involved for the given reaction will be as follows.
Step 1: (fast)
Rate expression for step 1 is as follows.
Rate = k
Step 2:
This step 2 is a slow step. Hence, it is a rate determining step.
Step 3. (fast)
Here, is intermediate in nature.
All the steps are bimolecular and it is a second order reaction. Also, there is no catalyst present in this reaction.
Thus, we can conclude that the statement step 1 is the rate determining step, concerning this mechanism is not directly supported by the information provided.