Engineering English
Reaction Mechanism
Chemical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A detailed step-by-step description of the sequence of elementary reactions that transform reactants into products. It includes the identification of intermediates and the rate-determining step.
Example in context
“The proposed reaction mechanism for the decomposition of ozone involves two elementary steps and an oxygen atom intermediate.”
“Ozonun ayrışması için önerilen reaksiyon mekanizması, iki elementer adım ve bir oksijen atomu ara ürünü içerir.”
Where engineers use it
Chemical engineers propose reaction mechanisms to interpret kinetic data and design reactors. A validated mechanism helps scale up processes with confidence.
Synonyms: mechanism
Practice: can you use “Reaction Mechanism” at work?
You collect concentration vs. time data for a catalytic reaction. Use the data to propose a plausible reaction mechanism and simulate the product distribution.
Show a model answer
“We need to elucidate the reaction mechanism before optimizing the reactor temperature.”
“Reaction Mechanism” in 21 languages
| English | Reaction Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Turkish | reaksiyon mekanizması |
| French | mécanisme réactionnel |
| German | Reaktionsmechanismus |
| Spanish | mecanismo de reacción |
| Chinese | 反应机理 |
| Arabic | آلية التفاعل |
| Portuguese | mecanismo de reação |
| Russian | механизм реакции |
| Japanese | 反応機構 |
| Italian | meccanismo di reazione |
| Vietnamese | cơ chế phản ứng |
| Hindi | अभिक्रिया क्रियाविधि |
| Thai | กลไกการเกิดปฏิกิริยา |
| Indonesian | mekanisme reaksi |
| Korean | 반응 메커니즘 |
| Bengali | বিক্রিয়া প্রক্রিয়া |
| Dutch | reactiemechanisme |
| Swedish | reaktionsmekanism |
| Finnish | reaktiomekanismi |
| Ukrainian | механізм реакції |
Frequently asked questions
What does Reaction Mechanism mean in engineering?
A detailed step-by-step description of the sequence of elementary reactions that transform reactants into products. It includes the identification of intermediates and the rate-determining step. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Reaction Mechanism?
Reaction Mechanism is pronounced /rɪˈækʃən ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Reaction Mechanism used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The proposed reaction mechanism for the decomposition of ozone involves two elementary steps and an oxygen atom intermediate.”
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