Unit 6: Chemical Kinetics
Chemical kinetics focuses on the rates at which chemical reactions proceed and the mechanisms behind these transformations. Critical factors influencing reaction rates include concentration, temperature, surface area, physical state, catalysts, and solvents. Understanding collision theory and activation energy is crucial for grasping how various conditions affect reaction speeds and the derivation of rate laws that describe the dynamics of chemical reactions.
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What we have learnt
- Chemical kinetics studies how quickly reactions occur and the mechanisms by which reactants change to products.
- Key factors affecting reaction rates include concentration, temperature, surface area, and the presence of catalysts.
- Collision theory emphasizes the importance of molecular collisions and energy barriers in determining reaction progress.
Key Concepts
- -- Activation Energy (Ea)
- The minimum energy needed for reactants to undergo a reaction and form products.
- -- Rate Law
- An equation that relates the rate of a reaction to the concentrations of reactants.
- -- Catalyst
- A substance that increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy without being consumed.
- -- Collision Theory
- A theory that states that molecules must collide to react, and only those collisions with sufficient energy and proper orientation lead to product formation.
- -- HalfLife (t₁₋₂)
- The time required for the concentration of a reactant to decrease to half its initial value.
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