Here's an example of using the rate determining step and steady-state approximations to
to determine the overall rate law in terms of the individual elementary steps. (The solutions
are given in a link at the bottom of this page - try to do it on your own first!)

Given the following mechanism for the catalytic destruction of ozone:

a) What's the overall reaction ?

b) What's the intermediate?

c) What is the rate law for each step (in terms of [O3], include the reverse of step 1) ?

d) The empirical rate law is: . What is the probable rate determining step?

e) What does [O] depend on (what's it proportional to? Hint: this depends on a correct answer to part d.)

f) Use the steady state approximation to find a rate law consistent with the experimental one.

g) Do the same as in (f) but using the equilibrium of step 1.