Final answer:
When reagents participate in more than one elementary step in a chemical reaction, we can represent the reaction using several different types of equations: the overall balanced equation, the net ionic equation, intermediate equations, and substitution reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reagents participate in more than one elementary step in a chemical reaction, we can represent the reaction using several different types of equations:
a) The overall balanced equation represents the entire reaction, including all reactants and products. For example, the equation for the reaction A + B → C + D.
b) The net ionic equation represents the reaction without the spectator ions. Spectator ions are ions that occur on both sides of the equation with the same coefficients. For example, the net ionic equation for the reaction 2Na^+ + 2Br^- + 2Na^+ + 2OH^- → 2NaBr + 2H2O would be 2OH^- → 2H2O.
c) Intermediate equations represent the individual elementary steps in the reaction mechanism. These equations show the reactants and products for each step. For example, the intermediate equation for the reaction A + B → C would be A → X (Step 1) and X + B → C (Step 2).
d) Substitution reactions involve the replacement of one atom or group of atoms by another atom or group of atoms. For example, in the reaction A + B → C, the reaction could proceed via a substitution mechanism where A is replaced by B to form C.