Chemistry / Unit 9 Chem 1709 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Termolecular Elementary Reactions
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The idea
A termolecular elementary reaction requires three particles to collide simultaneously, a rare event far less probable than an ordinary two-particle collision.
In practice
Nitric oxide with oxygen is one of the few reactions believed to use a termolecular step.
Where people slip
Seeing three reactant particles in an overall equation does not mean the mechanism has a termolecular step — bimolecular steps in sequence are much likelier.
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