Why is Understanding the Reaction Mechanism Important?
Understanding the reaction mechanism in catalysis is essential for several reasons: 1. Optimization: By knowing the elementary steps, scientists can optimize conditions to favor the desired pathway, increasing yield and selectivity. 2. Design: Mechanistic insights help in designing better catalysts by identifying the active sites and proposing modifications to improve performance. 3. Troubleshooting: If a catalytic process is not performing as expected, understanding the mechanism can help identify the bottleneck stages and suggest solutions.
