Chapter 12 – Chemical Kinetics

Five question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the Chemical Kinetics lecture.

What's the difference between thermodynamics and kinetics in chemical reactions?

Thermodynamics describes a reaction's energy changes (\Delta G) and equilibrium favorability. Kinetics describes the reaction's speed (rate) and its mechanism (how it proceeds).

What is the general rate law for aA + bB \to products?

The general rate law is Rate = k[A]^n[B]^m. Here, k is the rate constant, and n and m are experimentally determined reaction orders for reactants A and B, respectively. Their sum (n+m) is the overall reaction order.

How does doubling reactant concentration affect reaction rate for different orders?

For a zero-order reaction, the rate does not change. For a first-order reaction, the rate doubles. For a second-order reaction, the rate quadruples.

What factors influence the rate of a chemical reaction?

Five major factors are: reactant concentration, nature of the reactants, temperature, presence of a catalyst, and surface area of the reactants.

What are the units for the rate constant k for an overall second-order reaction?

The general formula for k units is M^{(1 - overall order)} \cdot s^{-1}. For an overall second-order reaction, k has units of M^{-1} \cdot s^{-1} (or L \cdot mol^{-1} \cdot s^{-1}).