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GCSE Chemistry · key term
A reaction or sequence of reactions used to make a specified product.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.3.3.2, 4.6.1.4 · Paper 1, Paper 2
A sequence of chemical reactions used to make a specified product.
Revise: Atom EconomyThere may be several reaction pathways for making the same product.
The sequence of changes by which reactants are converted into products during a reaction.
Specification 5.15C · Paper 1
A series of reactions used to convert starting materials into a specified desired product.
Revise: Choosing Reaction PathwaysA reaction pathway is a series of reactions that turns starting materials into a specified desired product. The same product can often be made by more than one pathway. Choosing between them is therefore not simply a matter of asking, “Does the reaction work?”
Specification C5.1k · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Selecting Reaction PathwaysA specified chemical product can often be made by more than one reaction pathway. A pathway may be one reaction or a sequence of reactions. Manufacturers compare the available routes because a pathway that works chemically is not necessarily the best one to use on a large scale.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
The curved line on a reaction profile that represents the change in energy as reactants become products.
Revise: Reaction profilesA curved reaction pathway joins them. The exact shape is a model of the energy changes, rather than a record of individual measurements.
The sequence of changes through which reactants become products during a reaction.
A way of making a specified chemical, which may involve one reaction or a series of reactions.
Keep the peak above both the reactant and product energy levels, and label the reactants, products, reaction pathway and activation energy clearly.
For an explanation of catalytic action, give the complete chain: the catalyst provides an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy, so a greater proportion of collisions are successful and the reaction rate increases.
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