An elementary reaction is a basic chemical reaction that occurs in a single step, involving a direct interaction between reactants to form products. In other words, it represents an individual component of a reaction mechanism, describing the actual molecular event rather than a series of steps. Elementary reactions are characterized by their rate laws, which can be derived directly from their stoichiometry. For example: 1. **Unimolecular reaction**: Involves a single reactant molecule decomposing or reacting.
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