Kinetics Flashcards
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when the temperature is increased?
More particles with the activation energy
Curve shifts (stretched) to right
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when half the molecules are removed?
The curve is lower/flatter
The Ea will decrease
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when a catalyst is added?
The curve stays the same
The number of particles with Ea increases
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when the volume of the container is reduced?
Same curve
Same number of particles with Ea
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when you reduce temperature?
The curve is ‘squished’ to the left
Fewer particles with Ea
How does a Maxwell-Boltzmann curve change when you add an inert gas?
It doesn’t
Describe what a catalyst is and explain how it works
A substance that increases the rate of reaction without being changed in chemical composition or amount itself
They work by providing an alternative reaction route which has a lower activation energy
State what is meant by the term ‘activation energy’
Reactions can only occur when collisions take place
between particles having sufficient energy.
This energy is called the activation energy
State what is meant by the term rate of reaction
The speed at which a chemical reaction proceeds