An introduction to biochemical kinetics

Question 1

What is rate?

Answer 1

Change in concentration with time

Question 2

What is V and Vi?

Answer 2

-V = rate
-Vi = initial rate

Question 3

If delta t is really small, what type of rate are we looking at and how can it be written?

Answer 3

-instantaneous rate
-V = d[A]/dt

Question 4

What do reaction rates depend on?

Answer 4

-temperature
-pressure
-pH
-ionic strength
-reagent concentration
-sequence of events + underlying chemistry
-reaction mechanism

Question 5

In an irreversible molecular reaction, what is the rate proportional to?

Answer 5

The concentration of A

Question 6

For an irreversible unimolecular reaction, what is v equal to?

Answer 6

• V = k[A]
• V = -Δ[A]/Δt
• V = Δ[B]/Δt

Question 7

What is the difference between first order and unimolecular?

Answer 7

-first order kinetics describes what’s observed experimentally, whereas unimolecular relates to how the molecules behave
-not all first order reactions are unimolecular