Which statement best describes a reaction mechanism in chemistry?
simple steps in a chemical reaction that add up to the overall reaction
simple steps in a chemical reaction that add up to the rate law
a method for showing the way in which an intermediate forms
a method for showing the way in which an intermediate is used up

The characteristics of two different types of reactions are shown below: reaction a: electrons are gained by the atoms of an element. reaction b: protons are lost by the atom of an element. which statement is true about the atoms of the elements that participate in the two reactions? their identity changes in both reaction a and reaction b. their identity changes in reaction a but not in reaction b. their identity changes in reaction b but not in reaction a. their identity remains the same in both reaction a and reaction b.