A laboratory activity in this area can therefore serve two purposes: as an introduction to a new field (nonequilibrium systems chemistry) and as an investigation of techniques for chemical kinetics. The experiment presented here covers both areas. The students compare rate constants determined for a simple reaction using two independent experimental techniques (NMR and IR spectroscopies). The students also connect the abstract concept of transient assembly to observable behavior by examining how the concentration of fuel affects the lifetime of a transient aggregate (precipitate) generated out of equilibrium. The experiment fits into the introductory organic chemistry lab curriculum, uses readily available materials and characterization tools, and is designed as a student-centered, guided-inquiry investigation.