Chemical Kinetics Flashcards
Gibbs free energy (Delta G) determines what?
Determines whether or not a reaction is spontaneous.
G > 1 = endergonic (nonspontaneous)
G=1, equilibrium
G < 1 = exergonic (spontaneous)
intermediate
-molecule in the mechanism that doesn’t appear in the overall reaction
rate-determining step
the slowest step in a reaction mechanism, prevents the overall reaction from proceeding any faster than that slowest step
Chemical Kinetics
the area of chemistry that is concerned with reaction rates and reaction mechanisms
Collision theory
States that a reaction rate is proportional to the number of effective collisions between the reacting molecules.
How do molecules react?
1) Must be in proper orientation
2) Must have enough KE to overcome activation energy
Activation energy
The minimum energy colliding particles must overcome in order to react.
Arrhenius equation
Mathematical way of representing collision theory.
low activation energy and high temp make the negative exponent smaller in magnitude, which increases the rate constant k
*A is the frequency or pre-exponential factor and e^(-Ea/RT) is the fraction of collisions that have enough energy to react (i.e., have energy greater than or equal to the activation energy Ea) at temperature T.
frequency factor(attempt frequency)
a term in the Arrhenius equation that is related to the frequency of collision and the probability that the collisions are favorably oriented for reaction
- can be increased by increasing the number of molecules in a vessel
Transition state theory
States that molecules form a transition state or activated complex during a reaction in which the old bonds are partially broken and new bonds partially formed.
Transition state(activated complex)
1) Highest point on a free energy reaction diagram.
2) Reaction can proceed toward products or revert to reactants.
3) old bonds broken and new bonds formed here.
4) the energy required to reach this state is the activation energy
highest energy relative to reactants and products
positive delta G
endergonic
negative delta g
exergonic
Factors affecting reaction rates:
1) Increasing [reactant] (except 0 order) because more effective collision per time.
2) Increasing temperature will increase reaction rate because particles KE will increase.
3) Changing medium will increase or decrease reaction rate, depending on how reactants interact with the medium (soluble or not?), generally POLAR SOLVENTS are preferred because molecular dipole tends to polarize the bonds of the reactants lengthening and weakening them permitting the reaction to occur faster
4) Adding a catalyst (lowers activation energy)
catalyst
substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
- interacts with reactants
- decreases the activation energy
- no impact on free energy
only make spontaneous reactions move more quickly toward equilibrium