What is the difference between Type of reaction and the Mechanism?
A type of reaction is a broad term and doesn’t not attempt to determine how the reaction occurs, simply classifies the outcome. C3H8 + 5O2 → 4H2O + 3CO2 is a combustion reaction AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3 is a double replacement reaction The mechanism, on the other hand, the route which the reaction takes from start to finish. Oftentimes there are several steps in the reaction that are not shown in the overall reaction equation, which only shows the initial reactants and final products. The hydrolysis of t-butyl bromide is a good example: 1. (CH3)3CBr → (CH3)3C+ + Br− 2. (CH3)3C+ + H2O → (CH3)3C-OH2+ 3. (CH3)3C-OH2+ + H2O → (CH3)3COH + H3O+ 4. (CH3)3COH + H3O+ → (CH3)3COH + H2O + HBr first the carbocation is formed, followed by a neucleophilic attack, then a dehydrogenation, and finally an ionic addition.
