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What is the effect of changing the concentration of reaction intermediates on the rate of the chemical reaction?

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Changing the concentration of reaction intermediates can have a significant effect on the rate of a chemical reaction. Reaction intermediates are species that are formed and consumed during the course of a reaction but do not appear in the overall balanced equation. They play a crucial role in the reaction mechanism, which is the step-by-step process by which reactants are converted into products.When the concentration of a reaction intermediate is increased, it can lead to an increase in the rate of the reaction, as there are more intermediate species available to participate in the reaction steps. This can result in a faster conversion of reactants to products. Conversely, if the concentration of a reaction intermediate is decreased, it can lead to a decrease in the reaction rate, as there are fewer intermediate species available for the reaction steps, slowing down the conversion of reactants to products.However, the effect of changing the concentration of reaction intermediates on the reaction rate may not always be straightforward, as it depends on the specific reaction mechanism and the role of the intermediate in that mechanism. In some cases, increasing the concentration of an intermediate may not have a significant impact on the reaction rate, especially if the intermediate is not involved in the rate-determining step  the slowest step in the reaction mechanism .In summary, changing the concentration of reaction intermediates can affect the rate of a chemical reaction, but the extent of this effect depends on the specific reaction mechanism and the role of the intermediate in that mechanism.
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