Rates, Equilibrium and pH Definitions Flashcards
Initial rate of reaction
The change in concentration of a reactant, or product, per unit time at the start of the reaction when t=0.
Rate of reaction
The change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time
The order of a reaction with respect to a reactant
The power to which the concentration of the reactant is raised in the rate equation
Overall order of reaction
The sum of the individual orders (m+n)
Rate constant, k
The constant that links the rate of reaction with the concentrations of the reactants raised to the powers of their orders in the rate equation.
Half-life of a reactant
The time taken for the concentration of the reactant to reduce by half.
Reaction mechanism
A series of steps that, together, make up the overall reaction.
Rate-determining step
The slowest step in the reaction mechanism if a multi-step reaction
Intermediate
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 a product of the overall equation.
