https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05810
A @[email protected] mechanism in which one of the @[email protected], C, is already present in an @[email protected] with A during formation of B from A, but does not assist the formation of B, e.g.
S05810.png
The formation of B from A may itself be a @[email protected] reaction with some other @[email protected] Since C does not assist the formation of A, it is described as being present as a spectator, and hence such a mechanism is sometimes referred to as a spectator mechanism.See also:
microscopic diffusion control