A reaction mechanism proposes the sequence of elementary reactions that produces an overall chemical reaction. Its predicted rate law must agree with observations; matching one rate law need not uniquely identify a reaction mechanism. See Flowers et al., Chemistry 2e, §12.6: reaction mechanisms.
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A reaction mechanism is a detailed description of the steps involved in a chemical reaction. It outlines how reactants transform into products at the molecular level, including the sequence of elementary reactions, the formation of intermediate species, and the transition states that are formed during the process. Understanding the reaction mechanism helps chemists predict the outcome of reactions, optimize conditions for desired products, and design new reactions.