What is Reaction mechanism?
[[File:Benzoin condensation2.svg|thumb|right|350px|An example of a reaction mechanism with arrow pushing]] A '''reaction mechanism''' is writing step by step how a [[chemical reaction]] works. Usually, only the overall change can be seen in a reaction. The things made in between react too quickly to be seen. These are called [[intermediate]]s, and in going from one intermediate to another a [[transition state]] is crossed. However, it is important to understand all the steps that make the total change. This is because then one can understand more difficult reactions or try to make a reaction work in a certain way. There are many type of reaction mechanisms. In [[organic chemistry]], the more common ones are [[nucleophilic substitution]], [[elimination reaction|elimination]] and [[addition reaction|addition]]. People sometimes use [[arrow pushing]] to draw how [[electrons]] move around during a reaction. This makes it easy to see which [[chemical bond|bonds]] are formed and which are broken during the process. {{Reaction mechanisms}} [[Category:Chemical reactions]]