chemistry chapter 5 Flashcards
chemical kinetics
is the study of the rates of reactions, the effect of reaction conditions on these rates, and the mechanisms implied by such observations
mechanism
of a reaction is the actual series of steps through which a chemical reaction occurs
intermediate
does not appear in the overall reaction because it is neither a reactant nor a product
rate-determining step
the slowest step in a proposed mechanism because the overall reaction cannot proceed faster than that step
rate
the disappearance of reactants over time or the appearance of products over time. Expressed in the units of moles per liter per second (mol/L x s) or molarity per second (molarity/sec)
reaction order
is defined as the sum of the exponents
zero-order reactions
has a constant rate, which is independent of the reactants’ concentrations. Thus the rate law is: rate=k, where k has units of Msec-1
first order reactions
has a rate proportional to the concentration of one reactant. Have units of sec-1
second order reactions
has a rate proportional to the product of the concentration of two reactants, or to the square of the concentration of a single reactant; for example, rate = k[A]2, rate =k[B]2, or rate=k[A][B]. The units of second-order rate constants are M-1sec-1
higher order reactions
a higher order reaction has an order greater than 2
mixed order reactions
a mixed order reaction has a fractional order; e.g., rate=k[A]1/3
collision theory of chemical kinetics
states that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the number of collisions per second between the reacting molecules
effective collision
(one that leads to the formation of products) occurs only if the molecules collide with correct orientation and sufficient force to break the exisiting bonds and form new ones
activation energy
minimum energy of collision necessary for a reaction to take place
transition state
when molecules collide with sufficient energy in which the old bonds are weakened and the new bonds are beginning to form