AP Chemistry Flashcards: Introduction to Reaction Mechanisms
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the significance of experimentally detecting a reaction intermediate?
The experimental detection of a proposed reaction intermediate provides strong evidence supporting that specific reaction mechanism over an alternative one.
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What is the significance of experimentally detecting a reaction intermediate?
The experimental detection of a proposed reaction intermediate provides strong evidence supporting that specific reaction mechanism over an alternative one.
In a two-step mechanism, a chemical species is produced in step 1 and consumed in step 2. What is the role of this species?
This species is a reaction intermediate, as it is formed and then used up during the sequence of elementary steps.
Identify the components of a reaction mechanism.
The components of a reaction mechanism are the sequential elementary reactions, which may include reactants, intermediates, products, and catalysts.
What are the four types of species that can be involved in a reaction mechanism?
A reaction mechanism can involve reactants, intermediates, products, and catalysts.
How are the elementary steps of a mechanism related to the overall balanced equation?
The elementary steps can be algebraically summed, canceling out any intermediates, to produce the net overall balanced chemical equation.
A chemist proposes two different mechanisms for a reaction. What kind of experimental evidence could help determine which mechanism is more likely correct?
Detecting the presence of a reaction intermediate that is predicted by one mechanism but not the other would provide strong evidence for the former.
What is an elementary reaction (or elementary step)?
An elementary reaction is a single, individual step within a larger reaction mechanism that describes a distinct molecular event.
What is a reaction intermediate?
A reaction intermediate is a species that is produced by one elementary step and then consumed by a subsequent step in the mechanism.
What is a fundamental requirement for the elementary steps of a valid reaction mechanism?
The elementary steps of a valid mechanism must sum to the overall balanced equation of the chemical reaction.
How does an intermediate differ from a reactant or product in the context of an overall reaction?
An intermediate exists only while the reaction is occurring and does not appear in the overall balanced equation, unlike reactants and products.
What is a reaction mechanism?
A reaction mechanism is a series of sequential elementary reactions (steps) that show the pathway from reactants to products.