Chemistry: Kinetics & Chemical Equilibrium Flashcards

What is the rate of reaction?

Answer: The change in concentration of reactants or products per unit time.

The rate of reaction quantifies how quickly reactants are consumed or products are formed over a specific period. It is typically expressed as the change in molar concentration of a reactant or product divided by the time interval. This measurement helps understand the kinetics of a chemical process.

What does Le Chatelier's Principle state?

Answer: The system will shift to minimize the disturbance.

Le Chatelier's Principle states that if a change of condition (like concentration, temperature, or pressure) is applied to a system at equilibrium, the system will shift in a direction that relieves the stress. This shift re-establishes a new equilibrium state, counteracting the initial disturbance.

What factors affect the rate of reaction?

Answer: Concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts.

Several factors influence the rate at which a chemical reaction proceeds. Increasing reactant concentration or surface area leads to more frequent collisions, while higher temperatures increase collision energy and frequency. Catalysts speed up reactions by providing an alternative pathway with lower activation energy.

What is activation energy?

Answer: The minimum energy required for a reaction to occur.

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy that reactant molecules must possess to overcome the energy barrier and transform into products. It represents the energy required to break existing bonds and form an activated complex, allowing the reaction to proceed.

What does the equilibrium constant (K) tell us about a reaction?

Answer: The relative concentrations of reactants and products at equilibrium.

The equilibrium constant (K) is a value that expresses the ratio of product concentrations to reactant concentrations at equilibrium, each raised to the power of their stoichiometric coefficients. A large K indicates that products are favored at equilibrium, while a small K indicates that reactants are favored. It provides insight into the extent of a reaction's completion.

How do catalysts affect the rate of reaction?

Answer: They lower the activation energy and increase the rate of reaction.

Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. They achieve this by providing an alternative reaction pathway with a lower activation energy. This allows a greater fraction of reactant molecules to possess the necessary energy for effective collisions, thus speeding up the reaction.

What happens to a reaction at equilibrium if the concentration of reactants is increased?

Answer: The equilibrium will shift to the right to produce more products.

According to Le Chatelier's Principle, if the concentration of reactants is increased in a system at equilibrium, the system will try to relieve this stress. It does so by shifting the equilibrium position to the right, favoring the forward reaction to consume the added reactants and produce more products until a new equilibrium is established.

What is the relationship between temperature and reaction rate?

Answer: Increasing temperature increases the reaction rate.

As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of reactant molecules also increases. This leads to more frequent collisions and, more importantly, a higher proportion of collisions possessing the necessary activation energy. Consequently, reactions proceed faster at higher temperatures.

What is the purpose of a reaction mechanism?

Answer: To explain the sequence of steps in a reaction.

A reaction mechanism describes the detailed, step-by-step pathway by which a chemical reaction occurs. It outlines the individual elementary reactions, intermediates formed, and transition states involved. Understanding the mechanism provides insight into how bonds are broken and formed, and helps explain the observed reaction rate.