key a2 definitions

Question 1

rate of reaction

Answer 1

change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time

Question 2

order with respect to a reactant

Answer 2

the power to which the conc of the reactant is raised in the rate equation

Question 3

rate constant

Answer 3

the constant that links the rate equation with the concentrations of the reactants raised to the powers of their orders in the rate equation

Question 4

overall order

Answer 4

sum of the individual orders

Question 5

half life

Answer 5

time taken for the conc of a reactant to reduce by half

Question 6

reaction mechanism

Answer 6

series of steps that, together, make up the overall reaction

Question 7

rate-determining step

Answer 7

slowest step in the reaction mechanism of a multi-step reaction

Question 8

intermediate

Answer 8

a species formed in one step of a multi-step reaction that is used up in a subsequent step, and is not seen as either a reactant or product of overall equation