The instability of the enolate intermediate was reiterated by a second participant by combining a charge and resonance argument. However, the negative formal charge on carbon was not explicity mentioned: "Like, forming that partial negative charge even though this is resonance stabilized isn't like isn't good…. Even though, like by LeCh𝑎 "tlier's principle that like little amount produced would 210 still be used up in the following steps, it's still not good." The incorporation of LeCh𝑎 "tlier's principle was only mentioned once during the interviews, but this is a key concept that illustrates why the formation of thermodynamically unfavored intermediates does not hinder or stop reactions from proceeding. Bond order was used as a resource by the third participant who identified the first step as being least thermodynamically favored. They further elaborated on why specifically the first step like a really stable carbon oxygen double bond….The stability of the two enolate intermediates from in step 1 and 4 was used as rationale for why step 1 is the least thermodynamically favored step: And I would say step one over Step 4 because like that enolate, I think it's more thermodynamically favorable in the first enolate, mainly because that hydrogen is more acidic."