Which of the following statements must be true of an intermediate in a reaction mechanism?
I. is produced in an elementary step
II. is consumed in an elementary step
III. is included in the overall balanced reaction equation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An intermediate is a species that is formed in an elementary reaction step and then consumed in a subsequent step. Thus, statements I and II must be true of an intermediate. However, intermediates are not typically included in the balanced equation as they are not present as reactants or products. Therefore, statement III is not necessarily true.

Which of the Following Statements Must Be True of an Intermediate