Chapter 16: Kinetics Flashcards
(34 cards)
Chemical kinetics: the study of?
The study of how fast a chemical reaction occurs: deals with speed of a reaction and its mechanism
Reaction Rate (definition)
changes in concentration of reactants or products as a function of time
Reaction Rate and conditions?
Under any given set of conditions, a rate is determined by nature of reactants and has a characteristic rate. For any given reaction, it has a different rate under different conditions.
Four factors that affect reaction rate
- Concentration of reactants 2. Physical state of reactants 3. Temperature of reaction 4. Catalyst
Concentration on Reaction Rate?
Molecules must collide to react: more molecules = more frequent collisions = more often reactions –> reaction rate is proportional to the number of collisions, which depends on the concentration of reactants. rate α collision frequency α concentration
Physical State of Reaction Rate?
Molecules must mix to collide: the more finely divided a solid/liquid reactant, the greater its surface area, the more contact it makes with other reactant, the faster the reaction occurs.
How reactants mix in same vs. different phases?
Same phase: random thermal motion, gentle stirring mixes them further - eg. aqueous solution Different: contact only at interface between phases, vigorous stirring needed
Temperature on Reaction Rate (2)
Molecules must collide with enough energy: temperature increases frequency and energy of collisions
Temperature on Frequency of Collisions
molecules in gas sample have a range of speeds, most probably speed is a function of temperature: higher temperature = more frequency collisions. Rate α Collision Frequency α Temperature
Temperature on Collision Energy
temperature affects kinetic energy: higher temperature = more sufficiently energetic collisions occur. Rate α Collision Energy α Temperature
Rate of Reaction: what changes?
reactant concentrations decrease, product concentration increases
Formula for Rate
-Δ[A]/Δt [A] = concentration in mol/L of reactant
Why a negative sign in rate formula?
reaction rate is a positive number –> reactant concentration decreases so (final-initial) is negative, extra negative sign balances it out
Units for Rate
Moles per liter per second: mol/L•s
What if for Rxn Rate we measure product concentration?
final conc is higher than initial, so change in product concentration is positive Rate = Δ[B]/Δt
The Three Types of Reaction Rate?
- > in most cases, rate varies as reaction proceeds (curved line)
1. Average Rate
2. Instantaenous Rate
3. Initial Rate
Why does rate decrease over course of reaction?
as reactant molecules react, fewer are present to collide with other reactants, so the change in the concentration of the reactants over time (aka rate) decreases
Average Rate
slope of line joining two points along curve: total change in concentration divided by total change in time
Instantaneous Rate
rate at a particular instant during the reaction: slope of line tangent to curve at any point
Initial Rate
instantaneous rate at the moment the reactants are mixed, aka at t = 0
Rate formula for non 1:1 Reactions
aA + bB → pP + qQ
lowercase = stoichiometric coefficients, capital letters = reactants and products

Rate Law (Rate Equation)
expresses rate as a function of concentrations and temperatures -> we usually only consider reactions where products don’t appear in the law, so rate only depends on reactant concentrations and temperature
Rate Law Formula
For a generic reaction aA + bB → C

Meaning of k, x and y in Rate Law
k = rate coefficient or rate constant of the reaction -> specific to a given reaction at a given temperautre, but doesn’t change as the reaction proceeds
x and y = reaction orders: define how the rate is affected by reactant concentrations