Rates of Chemical Reactions

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the rates of chemical reactions, including definitions, factors affecting rates, and theoretical models.

What is the rate of reaction?

The change in concentration of a reactant or product per unit time.

How is the initial rate of reaction calculated?

By drawing a tangent at t=0 on a volume-time graph and calculating the slope of that tangent.

What factors affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

Temperature, surface area, concentration, pressure, and catalysts.

What does collision theory state?

That particles must collide with sufficient energy and in the correct orientation for a reaction to occur.

What is activation energy?

The minimum energy that colliding particles must have for effective collisions to occur.

How does temperature affect reaction rates?

Increasing temperature increases energy and speed of particles, leading to more effective collisions.

What happens to the rate of reaction as concentration increases?

The rate of reaction generally increases due to more particles available for collisions.

What are enzymes?

Biological catalysts that speed up reactions in living organisms by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy.

What is the difference between surface adsorption theory and intermediate formation theory?

Surface adsorption theory involves reactants bonding loosely to a catalyst's surface, while intermediate formation theory involves a temporary intermediate compound formed during a reaction.

What are the limitations of collision theory?

It oversimplifies how complex molecules react and does not account for saturation of catalysts or variations in rate-determining steps.