Chapter 6/ 16 Flashcards
Chemical kinetics
Collision theory
Based on idea that for a chemical reaction to occur between two or more reactant particles, they must collide
Requirements for a chemical reaction
- reactant particles must collide with correct orientation
- reactant particles must collide w/ sufficient energy to overcome energy barrier for reaction (activation energy)
Unsuccessful collision
When the requirements for a successful collision aren’t met, reactant particles may simply bounce apart without reacting
- also happens when colliding particles don’t have energy equal to or greater than activation energy of reaction
For a chemical reaction to take place, the following conditions must be met
- Reactant particles must collide
- Reactant particles must collide with the correct orientation
- Reactant particles must collide with energy equal to or greater than activation energy
Activation energy of a reaction
Minimum amount of kinetic energy that colliding particles must have for a chemical reaction to occur
- amount of kinetic energy needed to overcome the energy barrier between reactants and products
- difference in energy between the reactants and the transition state of the reaction
Transition state
Highest energy state on a reaction coordinate
- indicates a point at which new bonds are being formed at the same time as old bonds are being broken
Chemical reactions and activation energy
- faster reactions have lower activation energies
- slower reactions have higher activation energies
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
Theory that, in an ideal gas, the kinetic energy of the molecules is spread over a range of values
Maxwell-Boltzmann curve
The total area beneath the curve is equal to total no. of particles in the sample
- area under any region of the curve is directly proportional to no. of molecules having a value of kinetic energy in that range
- shaded region = no. of particles that have energy equal to, or greater than, the activation energy (Ea)
- shape of distribution changes as temperature is increased
- when temperature is increased, a greater proportion of particles have energy equal to, or greater than, Ea
Maxwell-Boltzmann curve and changes in temperature
Temperature of a gas sample is increased:
- peak of distribution curve shifts to right, increase in most likely value for kinetic energy of particles. At higher temp., average KE of particles increases
- curve flattens, becoming broader so total area under it remains constant (there are still same no. of particles in sample)
- increase in area under curve to right of Ea value
NB/ at higher temp., a greater proportion of particles will have energy equal to or greater than Ea
Temperature
Measure of average kinetic energy of particles in a substance
Why does increasing temp. increase rate of reaction?
- when temp. increases, average kinetic energy of particles in a substance increases
- particles start moving faster, collide more frequently and more energetically
- for many reactions, increase of 10 degrees C, doubles rate of reaction- because more particles have energy equal to, or greater than, Ea
Effect of a catalyst
Provides a reaction pathway that requires a lower Ea
- hence, a greater proportion of reactant particles will have energy equal to, or greater than, Ea
Kelvin scale
An absolute temperature scale
- an absolute unit of measurement
- doubling temp. on this scale = average KE of particles in sample is also doubled
Average KE and Kelvin scale
The absolute temperature in K is directly proportional to average kinetic energy of particles in a sample
Absolute 0
Lowest possible temperature on Kelvin scale- it is the origin of x-axis of distribution
At this temp. :
- motion of particles is minimal
- a substance has no transferrable energy
- an ideal gas at constant pressure would reach 0 volume
Conversion between degrees Celsius and Kelvin
Kelvin = Degrees Celsius -273.15
Catalysts
Used to increase the rate of a chemical reaction
- achieve this by providing an alternate reaction pathway that has a lower Ea than the uncatalysed pathway
- remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction. In some, catalyst can be re-used, provides a further economic benefit.
Catalysed reaction pathway
Has a lower Ea than uncatalysed reaction pathway
- original Ea for reaction remains unchanged
Catalysts and activation energy
Catalysts don’t lower Ea of a reaction
- they proved an alternate reaction pathway that has a lower Ea
How do catalysts increase rate of a chemical reaction?
- provide an alternative reaction pathway w/ a lower Ea
- a greater proportion of particles now have energy equal to, or greater than, original Ea for reaction
- results in an increased frequency of successful collisions between reactant particles
- increases rate of reaction
Enzymes
Biological catalysts
- are large protein molecules that enable biochemical reactions in living things to take place at relatively low temp.
- enzyme molecules are folded into special shapes that can accommodate reactant molecules in their ‘active sites’
- incredibly efficient, most only catalyse on reaction involving one particular molecule or pair of molecules (specific)
Substrate
Molecule that fits into active site of an enzyme and reacts
Enzymes as catalysts
Provide an alternative reaction pathway with a lower Ea than the uncatalysed reaction
Rate of reaction
The change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit of time
- measure of the ‘speed’ of reaction
Unit: mol/dm^3/s
Equation for rate of reaction
Rate of reaction = (increase/decrease in reactant concentration)/ change in time
Graphs and rates of reaction
Concentration of reactant vs. time:
- gradient of line represents rate of reaction (gradient decreases with time)
Concentration of product vs. time:
- gradient of line decreases with time
Instantaneous rate of reaction
Rate of reaction at a particular time