Kinetically Controlled Reaction

Definition

This is a type of chemical reaction where rate rather than product stability determines outcome; these reactions stop at intermediate stages if those stages are slow to react further.

Analogy

Think of a kinetically controlled reaction like a race. The fastest runner (or the quickest reaction) wins, not necessarily the one who could run the longest distance (or produce the most stable product).

Related terms

Rate Law: An equation that relates the rate of a reaction to the concentrations of reactants. It's crucial in understanding kinetically controlled reactions.

Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy, without being consumed in the process.

Reaction Mechanism: The step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions by which overall chemical change occurs. In kinetically controlled reactions, intermediate steps can be significant.