A reaction mechanism describes the step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions by which overall chemical change occurs. It provides detailed information on the intermediates, transition states, and energy changes throughout the process.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Each elementary step in a reaction mechanism has its own rate law and molecularity.
The slowest elementary step is known as the rate-determining step and controls the overall reaction rate.
Intermediates are species that appear in the reaction mechanism but not in the overall balanced equation.
Catalysts appear in early steps of a reaction mechanism and are regenerated in later steps.
The sum of the elementary steps must give the overall balanced equation for the chemical reaction.