?Using the vapor-pressure curves in Figure 11.25, (a) estimate the boiling point of ethanol at an external pressure of 200 torr, (b

Step 1 of 5) We have considered only three reaction mechanisms: one for a reaction that occurs in a single elementary step and two for simple multistep reactions where there is one rate-determining step. There are other more complex mechanisms, however. If you take a biochemistry class, for example, you will learn about cases in which the concentration of an intermediate cannot be neglected in deriving the rate law. Furthermore, some mechanisms require a large number of steps, sometimes 35 or more, to arrive at a rate law that agrees with experimental data!. A catalyst is a substance that changes the speed of a chemical reaction without undergoing a permanent chemical change itself. Most reactions in the body, the atmosphere, and the oceans occur with the help of catalysts. Much industrial chemical research is devoted to the search for more effective catalysts for reactions of commercial importance. Extensive research efforts also are devoted to finding means of inhibiting or removing certain catalysts that promote undesirable reactions, such as those that corrode metals, age our bodies, and cause tooth decay.