[a student]

hi
can you tell me what is the rate determining step in these 3 types of elimination reaction?

[renge ishyo]

What do the numbers tell you in E2 and E1? Here's a hint, they directly relate to the rate determining step in the reaction.

[a student]

Thank you for your answer, but I think that the numbers means the number of steps of that mechanism it doesn't mention that which step is rate determining

[renge ishyo]

The numbers refer to the kinetic order of the reaction. The kinetic order is determined by the rate limiting step in the reaction. Both of the #'s tell you how many molecules are involved in the rate limiting step and from there you can deduce which step is rate limiting while examining the mechanism. You can have many steps (rearrangements) in an E1 mechanism so the 1 cannot stand for the number of steps.

Look it up in your textbook, and prove me wrong 

[a student]

yes, you're right, thank you very much