Unit 5: Kinetics

Unit 5 Learning Targets/Objectives per topic

Topic 5.1: Reaction Rates

• I can explain the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction an experimental parameters.

• I can define the rate of chemical reaction as the rate at which an amount of reactants is converted to products per unit time.

• I can describe how the rate of formation of products and disappearance of reactants are determined using stoichiometric coefficients.

• I can explain how the rate of a chemical reaction is influenced by the reactant concentration, temperature, surface area and the. use of a catalyst.

Topic 5.2: Introduction to Rate Law

• I can represent experimental data with a consistent rate law expression

• I can understand how the rate law of a reaction is proportional to the concentration of reactants each raised to a power.

• I can understand that the power of each reactant in the rate law is the order of the reaction with respect to that reactant.

• I can use method of initial rates to figure out the rate law expression of a given reaction.

Topic 5.3: Concentration Changes Over Time

• I can identify the rate law expression of a chemical reaction using data that show how concentration of reactants change over time.

• I can determine the order of a reaction by graphing [reactant] vs time.

• I can explain that if a graph of [reactant] vs time is a straight line then the reaction is zero order.

• I can explain that if a graph of ln [reactant] vs time is a straight line then the reaction is first order.

• I can explain that if a graph of reciprocal of [reactant] vs time is a straight line then the reaction is second order.

• I can relate the unit of the rate constant K to the order of the chemical reaction

Topic 5.4: Elementary Reactions

• I can use stoichiometry to write the rate law of an elementary reaction.

Topic 5.5: Collision Model

• I can explain that for a reaction to take place molecules must collide, collide in the correct orientation and have enough energy to overcome the activation energy of the chemical reaction (necessary for breaking and forming bonds).

Topic 5.6: Reaction Energy Profile

• I can represent the activation energy and the overall energy change in a chemical reaction using a reaction profile.

• I can label the energy of reactants, products, activation energy and enthalpy of a reaction in a reaction profile.

Topic 5.7: Introduction to Reaction Mechanisms

• I can identify the components of a reaction mechanism.

• I can define and identify a reaction intermediate in a given reaction.

• I can explain how the elementary steps when combined add up to the overall reaction.

Topic 5.8: Reaction Mechanisms and Rate Law

• I can determine the rate law of a given reaction using the rate determining step in a given reaction mechanism.

Topic 5.9: Steady State Approximation

• I can identify the rate law for a reaction in which the first step is not rate limiting.

Topic 5.10: MultiStep Reaction Profile

• I can represent the activation energy and the overall energy in a multistep reaction with a reaction energy profile.

Topic 5.11: Catalysis

• I can explain how catalysts affect the reaction rate by changing the reaction mechanisms.

• I can explain how catalysts are consumed in the rate determining step of a chemical reaction and regenerated in a following step.