Final answer:
The rate-determining step in the given reaction mechanism is Step 2: C→D+E, which is the slow step in the sequence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate-determining step in a reaction is the slowest step in the sequence of steps that make up the reaction mechanism. Given the chemical reaction steps, Step 1: A→B+C (fast), Step 2: C→D+E (slow), and Step 3: D+A→F (fast), we can identify the rate-determining step. Since Step 2 is described as slow, and the other steps are fast, Step 2: C→D+E is the rate-determining step in the given sequence. This is analogous to the concept where traffic flow on a road is determined by the slowest car, here the overall reaction rate is determined by the slowest step in the reaction mechanism.
In general, reaction mechanisms provide us with a detailed description of the process by which the reactants convert to products. The reaction order in a reaction mechanism is indicative of how the reaction rate depends on the concentration of each reactant. Therefore, the rate-determining step significantly influences the rate law for the overall reaction.