Reaction intermediate

Definition

A reaction intermediate is a transient species that is formed during the conversion of reactants into products in a chemical reaction and does not appear in the final reaction equation. It plays a crucial role in determining the pathway and mechanism by which the reaction proceeds.

Related terms

Activation Energy: The minimum amount of energy required for reactants to undergo a chemical reaction.

Transition State: A high-energy, unstable state that occurs during the transformation of reactants into products, representing the point of maximum energy along the reaction path.

Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed or permanently altered by it