consecutive reaction

A consecutive reaction in chemistry is a process where a reaction occurs in multiple distinct steps, with the product of one step becoming the reactant for the next. This is also known as a stepwise or composite reaction. For example, the reaction between hydrogen and iodine chloride can be explained by a slow initial reaction followed by a rapid second step. The rate of the overall reaction is determined by the slowest step.12

Detecting reaction intermediates, which are substances formed during a step but consumed in a subsequent one, provides evidence for composite mechanisms. These intermediates can be stable or unstable species like atoms or free radicals. Understanding these reaction mechanisms is crucial in chemical kinetics, as it helps determine the most effective conditions to favor a desired reaction pathway.12