A reaction mechanism is the actual sequence of elementary steps by which a reaction proceeds at the molecular level. It shows how reactants are converted into products through any intermediates, and it must be consistent with the experimentally determined rate law. A proposed mechanism is supported, but never finally proved, by kinetic data.

反应机理是反应在分子层面实际经历的一系列基元步骤。它表明反应物如何经由任何中间体转化为生成物,并且必须与实验测定的速率定律相一致。所提出的机理可由动力学数据支持,但永远无法被最终证实。