This is the sequence of steps or intermediates that make up a complex reaction from reactants to products.
Consider reaction path as your journey from home to school. You don't teleport directly; instead, you pass through several streets and intersections (intermediates) before reaching your destination (products).
Reaction Mechanism: The step-by-step sequence of reactions by which the overall chemical change occurs.
Intermediate Species: Molecules or ions formed during the middle stages of a reaction, which are consumed by its end.
Transition State Theory: A theory describing how during a chemical reaction, molecules form an activated complex or transition state.
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