The steady-state approximation is a method used in chemistry to simplify complex reaction mechanisms. It assumes that the concentration of certain intermediate species remains constant over the course of the reaction.
Intermediate Species: These are substances that are formed during middle steps of a chemical reaction but do not appear in the final product.
Reaction Mechanism: This refers to a series of elementary reactions or steps that describe how molecules rearrange during a chemical reaction.
Rate-Determining Step: This is typically the slowest step in a sequence of reaction mechanisms, and it limits the final rate at which any reaction proceeds.
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