Editing Reactive intermediate (section)

{{Short description|Short-lived molecule formed as a step of a chemical reaction}}
{{Distinguish|Reaction intermediate}}

In [[chemistry]], a '''reactive intermediate''' or an '''intermediate''' is a short-lived, high-energy, highly reactive [[molecule]]. When generated in a [[chemical reaction]], it will quickly convert into a more stable molecule. Only in exceptional cases can these compounds be isolated and stored, e.g. low temperatures, [[matrix isolation]]. When their existence is indicated, reactive intermediates can help explain how a chemical reaction takes place.<ref>Carey, Francis A.; Sundberg, Richard J.; (1984). Advanced Organic Chemistry Part A Structure and Mechanisms (2nd ed.). New York N.Y.: Plenum Press. {{ISBN|0-306-41198-9}}.</ref><ref>March Jerry; (1992). Advanced Organic Chemistry reactions, mechanisms and structure (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons {{ISBN|0-471-60180-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Gilchrist|first1=T. L.|title=Carbenes nitrenes and arynes|date=1966|publisher=Springer US|isbn=9780306500268}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Moss|first1=Robert A.|last2=Platz|first2=Matthew S.|last3=Jones, Jr.|first3=Maitland|title=Reactive intermediate chemistry|date=2004|publisher=Wiley-Interscience|location=Hoboken, N.J.|isbn=9780471721499}}</ref>

Most chemical reactions take more than one [[elementary step]] to complete, and a reactive intermediate is a high-energy, hence unstable, product that exists only in one of the intermediate steps. The series of steps together make a [[reaction mechanism]].  A reactive intermediate differs from a reactant or product or a simple [[reaction intermediate]] only in that it cannot usually be isolated but is sometimes observable only through fast [[spectroscopic]] methods. It is stable in the sense that an [[elementary reaction]] forms the reactive intermediate and the elementary reaction in the next step is needed to destroy it.

When a reactive intermediate is not observable, its existence must be [[inferred]] through experimentation. This usually involves changing reaction conditions such as temperature or concentration and applying the techniques of [[chemical kinetics]], [[chemical thermodynamics]], or [[spectroscopy]]. Reactive intermediates based on carbon are [[radical (chemistry)|radicals]], [[carbene]]s, [[carbocation]]s, [[carbanion]]s, [[aryne]]s, and [[carbyne]]s.