Reaction kinetics - Atkins

10 important questions on Reaction kinetics - Atkins

What happens when the activation energy is 0?

Each collision between molecules leads to a reaction.

How do you increase the rate constant? (kr)

By increasing the temperature or decreasing the activation energy.

What are elementary reactions?

  • Fundamental processes in chemical kinetics
  • Occur in a single step
  • Involve a direct collision between reactants
  • Rate equations are derived from the stoichiometry
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What is a unimolecular reaction?

A single molecule shakes itself apart or its atoms into a new arrangement.

What is a consecutive reaction?

  • Involves multiple steps.
  • Each step depends on the previous one.
  • Often seen in biochemical processes.
  • Can produce intermediate products.

What is a intermediate in a consecutive reaction?

  • A temporary species formed during a chemical reaction.
  • Exists between reactants and products.
  • Can influence reaction rate and mechanism.

What is the steady state approximation?

This approximation assumes that the intermediate I, is in a low, constant concentration and the rate of change of concentration is neglibly small (dI/dt=0).

When is the SSA valid?

When ka<<kb is in the reaction A -> I -> P

Why is the overall reaction rate equal to the RDS?

The rate-determining step (RDS) is critical to reaction kinetics for several reasons:
  • It is the slowest step in the reaction mechanism.
  • All subsequent steps happen faster and do not affect the overall rate.
  • The overall reaction rate is limited by the speed of this step.
  • Concentrations of reactants and products at this stage dictate the rate.
  • RDS has the highest Ea

Thus, the overall reaction rate mirrors the kinetics of the RDS.

Which step is RDS in pre-equilibrium state? ( A -> I -> P)

The final step I -> P is RDS.

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