define each of the following terms as applied to chemical processes: a. elementary reaction b. intermediate c. reaction mechanism d.?

1. An elementary reaction is a reaction where the reaction occurs only in one step.

2. An intermediate is a chemical compound formed in one step of the reaction and used up in another step before the reaction is completed. For example, consider the reaction of A and B to make D where each letter represents an chemical compound:

A+B-> C

C+B-> D

Here you can see C is made in the first step and then used up in the second step so it is merely an intermediate of the reaction.

3. A reaction mechanism is the step by step sequence of elementary reactions that occur for a reaction to be completed.

4. The minimum energy required to get the reactants to react and form the products.

Okay.