Ch 13.1 rate of a rxn Flashcards
What is meant by the rate of chemical reaction? What are the units of the rate of a reaction?
Rate of a reaction, or reaction rate, refers to as “kinetics” which suggests movement or change.
Reaction rate is the change in the concentration of a reactant or a product with time
Units: M/s (Molarity per second)
Distinguish between average rate and instantaneous rate. Which of the two rates gives us an unambiguous measurement of reaction? Why?
Average rates are are reaction rates that are averaged over a certain time period delta t. Measuring a reactant (or product) at some final time enables us to determine the average rate of the reaction during an interval
Where’s the instantaneous is the rate reaction at a specific time.
Eg: drive to San Francisco. Average time and specific time driving
Instantaneous rates are unambiguous b/c it will always have the same value for the same M of reactants, as long as temperature stays the same.
What are the advantages of measuring the initial rate of a reaction?
The initial rate helps us determine the average rate of the reaction during an interval
Concentration at some initial time and then some final time enables us to determine the average rate of the reaction.
