Reaction Kinetics Flashcards
What does kinetics mean?
things related to the rate of reaction
What is the rate of reaction?
the rate of change of concentration of a reactant or product with time
What are the units for rate?
moldm-3 s-1
What are the 2 ways that rate can be measured?
- samples taken at interval time points
- continuous monitoring of the reaction
How does a colorimeter work?
uses a filter to select light in a wavelength range where there is a big difference in strength of absorptio by the products compared to the reactants
What is the method of monitoring a reaction using colorimetry?
- select filter for an appropriate wavelength
- calibrate the colorimeter by measuring absorbance rate of standard solutions with known concs of the coloured substance
- plot a calibration curve of absorbance v conc
- start reaction in the sample cell of the colorimeter, measure absorbance rate continuosly
- use calibation curve to turn absorbance readings into conc readings
What is the definition of the rate equation?
the rate equation for a reaction shows how the rate depends on the concentrations of reactants
What is the generic rate equation?
Rate = K[A]^m [B]^n
What is K in the rate equation?
the rate constant
What is m/n in the generic rate equation?
the order of reaction with respect to the reactant
How do you calculate the overall order of reaction (generic)?
m + n
the sum of the separate orders
What is the definition of the rate constant?
a measure of the probability that a reaction will happen when the particles collide
What happens to K as the temp increases? and why?
K increases as the temp increases
because the proportion of reactant molecules (or ions) with energy greater than the activation energy increases
How does concentration and pressure affect K?
it doesnt have any affect on K
What is half life?
the time taken for the concentration of a reactant to fall to half its original value
What is the abbreviation for half life?
t 1/2
What is the rate equation for 0 order?
rate = K
What happens to the t1/2 of a 0 order reaction?
sucessive half-lives decrease